Partnership with Potential

Atul Chandra

Despite India and France having been strategic partners since for nearly a quarter of a century, the strong ties have not resulted in the acquisition of sophisticated French naval equipment for the Indian Navy (IN).

The Project 75 (P-75) programme for manufacture of Scorpene submarines is the sole major success for the French in this arena. The IN, which has championed indigenisation in warship procurement, relies mainly on Russian warships or warships of Indian design with Russian and Israeli weapons and sensors. This is indeed surprising, considering that French naval equipment are widely considered to be highly capable. The lack of acquisition of major French naval equipment by IN is in stark contrast with the Indian Air Force (IAF), which has continued to induct advanced French fighters since the mid-1980s.

First torpedo firing trials of INS Kalvari

Enduring Partnership

India and France established a strategic partnership in 1998 in defence & security cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation. Florence Parly, minister for the armed forces of France, has made official visits to India on a number of occasions since her first visit in 2017. One of her very first official trips since the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic was to India.

During his recent visit to France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with French President Emmanuel Macron. The India–France joint statement issued during the PM’s visit to France welcomed the ongoing intense cooperation across all defence domains. Joint exercises (Shakti, Varuna, Pegase, Desert Knight, Garuda) were aimed at better integration and interoperability. ‘Maritime cooperation between India and France has reached new levels of trust and will continue through exercises, exchanges and joint endeavours throughout the Indian Ocean,’ read the statement. ‘Taking forward this momentum, and based on their mutual trust, both sides agreed to find creative ways for France’s deeper involvement in “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” efforts in advanced defence technology, manufacturing and exports, including increased industry to industry partnerships.’

The French defence minister has also been a regular visitor to India and her most recent official visit to India was in December 2021, where in addition to calling on Prime Minister Modi, she took part in the Annual Defence Dialogue with defence minister Rajnath Singh. The in-depth talks covered all aspects of the w