India, France agree to co-produce next-gen fighter jet, copter engines

Tribune News Service

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14

In a significant move, India and France tonight announced that they would jointly produce three more submarines and co-develop new engines for next-generation fighters jets and helicopters. These were part of the announcements made in Paris after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Punjab regiment leads Indian contingent

• Nostalgic tune of 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' played at the French National Day parade as a contingent of the Indian armed forces joined French troops to march down Champs-Élysées on Friday
• Army contingent was led by Captain Aman Jagtap of Punjab Regiment, along with Rajputana Rifles’ band at Bastille Day Parade
• The Army’s contribution to the contingent is the largest with 77 in marching contingent and 38 members of the band

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence, had yesterday separately okayed 26 Rafale fighter jets (marine version) along with associated weapons, spares, crew training and logistic support for the Indian Navy from the French government-based on an inter-governmental agreement.

Key deliverables

• Roadmap on strategic partnership ‘Horizon-2047’
• 5-year short-stay Schengen Visa for Indian degree-holders
• Cooperation in Indo-Pacific, digital technologies & civil aviation
• MoU on civil aviation security, ocean technology & earth sciences
• Joint declaration between ISRO & CNES in field of launchers
• Collaboration in commercial space launch services

The tie-up for the engines will be with Safran for joint development and co-production of next-generation engines for fighter jets and an engine for a 13-tonne helicopter. “India and France will support joint development of a combat aircraft engine. A roadmap for this project will be prepared by Safran and the DRDO before the end of this year,” an MEA document stated. Sources said Safran had offered to make a new 110-kilo Newton engine in India. The sixth-generation advanced multi-role combat aircraft will be powered by it. The French offer consists of a new engine with supply chain and manufacturing at an Indian location.

A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, (India is) a strategic partner, a friend. Emmanuel Macron, president of france

The MEA today said “shareholders’ agreement between HAL and Safran has been concluded for engine development”. This is for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter, a 13-tonne copter.

The India-France document also ‘welcomed’ the MoU between Mazagon Dockyard Ltd (MDL) and Naval Group for the construction of three additional Scorpene class submarines. Three Scorpene submarines would be made in India under a ‘repeat clause’ of an ongoing project to make six of these subs under an existing joint venture at MDL.  

The Scorpene class is named the ‘kalvari class’ in India. The last of the six vessels is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy early next year. Making three more subs will improve India’s undersea strength. As of now, Indian has 16 conventional and one nuclear submarine, much less than the envisaged plan drawn out in 1999 that spoke about having 24 conventional submarines by 2030. Barring the five Kalvari class submarines, rest of the 11 Indian submarines are over 30 years old and are running on extended life cycle.   

Separately, Safran and HAL concluded a contract for transfer of technology of forging and castings of the jointly developed Shakti Engine – the one that powers the Advanced Light Helicopter. The engine is made under a joint venture the new thing is that HAL will learn the art if metal forging of the engine. 

Earlier the PM in his opening remarks at joint press conference with Macron mentioned submarines and Rafale jets saying: “We are looking at new technology for co-development and co-production and will talk on this. Be it submarines or the Naval jets, we not only want to make for our two countries but also to make for our friends”.  

“France is an important partner in make in India,” Modi said adding that defence cooperation between India and France is an important pillar of our relations. 

The PM mentioned that India’s Defence Space Agency has a scope for cooperation with France. He announced a joint satellite named ‘Trishna’  to monitor weather and earth patterns. Crucially, the PM mentioned that Space based assets can monitor maritime areas. “We can improve our cooperation on this,” he added. 

Both, Modi and Macron mentioned the Indo-Pacific.  “It’s our responsibility. We are working on Indo-Pacific  cooperation  roadmap,” said Modi.  

Macron said both countries have common goals of peace and security, besides ensuring that rule of law prevails in the Indo Pacific. 

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