Due to the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India to participate in the AI Summit, speculations are being made that France will now replace Russia. These speculations are being made because while India has reduced its dependence on Russia for arms and other military equipment, defense cooperation with France is continuously increasing.
During Macron’s visit, many big defense deals are going to be signed or discussed between India and France. How important is Macron’s visit to India can be gauged from the fact that along with the French President, his country’s Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin has also come to India and is taking part in a special defense dialogue with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
Military officers will be deployed in each other’s army
During Macron’s visit, a defense framework for the next 10 years is being signed in India and France. Under this framework, each other’s officers will be deployed in the armies of India and France. This is happening for the first time that officers from another army are being deployed in the Indian Army. However, this agreement is going to help France more than India because the number of land forces of France is very less compared to India. In order to prevent the fire of Russia-Ukraine war from spreading to Europe, France can get important help in training the Indian Army to fight the war.
114 Make in India Rafale fighter jets approved before the tour
Just before Emmanuel Macron’s visit, the Defense Ministry has approved the manufacture of 114 Rafale fighter jets in India for the Indian Air Force. For this, France’s Dassault company will set up a plant to manufacture Rafale fighter jets in India in collaboration with an indigenous company of India. This entire project is going to be worth around Rs 3 lakh 25 thousand crores. It is believed that in the near future, the marine version of Rafale can also be manufactured here for the needs of the Indian Navy. For this, Rafale fighter jets will also be exported to other Asian countries from this plant.
French LUH helicopter will replace the old helicopter
Apart from this, PM Modi and Macron will virtually inaugurate the helicopter plant being jointly set up by Europe’s Airbus and Tata company near Bengaluru. In this plant, light utility helicopter i.e. H-125 LUH helicopter will be manufactured for the Indian Army. These LUH helicopters will replace the obsolete Cheetah and Chetak helicopters of the Indian Army and Air Force. During its inauguration, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the Defense Minister of France themselves will be present at the plant.
Hammer bombs used in Operation Sindoor will be made in India
When Macron will be in India, in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the Defense Minister of France, France’s Safran company will sign an agreement with Bharat Electronics Limited or BEL to manufacture hammer bombs in India. France’s Safran company manufactures these hammer bombs and they are launched from Rafale. These air-to-ground highly agile modular munitions extended range (HAMMER) is a stand-off weapon (bomb) with a range of about 70 kilometers.
During Operation Sindoor, these hammer bombs were used by the Indian Air Force to destroy the headquarters of terrorist organizations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba operating from Pakistan. This hammer bomb can also be fired from Mirage-2000 and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. This is the reason why these bombs will now be made in India.
400 Scalp missiles will be purchased from France
Apart from manufacturing Hammer bombs in India, India is also going to buy about 400 Scalp missiles for the Rafale fighter jet. These air-to-ground missiles with a range of about 300 kilometers were also used by the Indian Air Force during Operation Vermillion.
Additional Scorpene class submarines also in the pipeline
Apart from Rafale, LUH, Hammer and Scalp missiles, India is also in discussions with France to build three additional Scorpene class submarines. Indian Navy has six Scorpenes built at Mazagon Dockyard with the help of France, which are already being used by Kalvari class submarines.
Due to the use of French weapons in such a large number by the Indian Army i.e. Army, Air Force and Navy, speculations are now being made whether France will now take the place of Russia in defense relations. Because at one time Indian forces were dependent on Russian made weapons, fighter jets, tanks and missiles. In the last 10-15 years, India has greatly reduced its dependence on Russia. A major reason for this is the Russia-Ukraine war. Along with this, India also has strengthening relations with America, France and other western countries.
According to global think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute or SIPRI, between 2010-14, India used 72 percent of Russia’s weapons and other military equipment. However, between 2020-24, it came down to only 38 percent, i.e. a decline of about 55 percent. During the same period (2020-24), India increased the use of French weapons by 28 percent. That means in second place.
Russia’s participation in defense cooperation is decreasing
While France is now manufacturing Rafale fighter jets, helicopters and missiles in India, defense cooperation with Russia is decreasing. The production of Sukhoi fighter jet has stopped. There is a huge delay in the supply of two (02) batteries of the S-400 missile deal signed with Russia in the year 2019. It is believed that due to the Ukraine war, Russia has not been able to supply these batteries on time. Russia had recently offered its SU-57 fighter jets to India. Even joint Make in India manufacturing was offered, but India chose France instead of Russia for joint manufacturing of fighter jets. In such a situation, Russia’s participation in the supply of arms is decreasing and France’s is increasing.