Source : REUTERS
India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi said.
India and France agree on joint defence production, expanding bilateral ties in technology, space, and AI
The deal was reached during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, the government said in a statement late on Friday January 26.
Macron and Modi agreed to expand bilateral ties in defence production, nuclear energy, space research and the use of artificial intelligence for public services like climate change, health and agriculture, the statement said.
It did not specify the value of any deals.
After Russia, France is the largest arms supplier to India, which has relied on its fighter jets for four decades.
www-mea-gov-in-bilateral-documents-htm-dtl-37534-India__France_Joint_Statement_on_the_State_Visit_of_HE_Mr_Emmanuel_Macron_President_of_French_Republic_to_India_25__26_January_2024The leaders welcomed the setting up of maintenance, repair and overhaul services by France’s Safran for leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engines in India and adding such services for Rafale engines, and a helicopter partnership.
The bilateral summit during Macron’s 40-hour visit, was the fifth Macron-Modi meeting since May.
India’s Tata Group and France’s Airbus have signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters together, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.
Akasa Air previously ordered 76 aircraft powered by the engine, of which 22 are in use.
India and France agreed to intensify cooperation in the southwest Indian Ocean, building on joint surveillance missions carried out from the French island territory of La Reunion in 2020 and 2022, the government statement said.
(Edited by : Priyanka Deshpande)
