Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron
NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said the Rafale fighter jets will boost India’s military strength and he was committed to having more indigenous content in the “Made in India Rafale”, as sought by the Modi government.Speaking on the sidelines of the AI-India Summit at the end of his three-day visit, Macron told French and Indian media, “Rafale is improving our strategic relations and creating more job opportunities here.” Regarding criticism in some Western quarters regarding the performance of the 4.5 generation fighter, especially during Operation Sindor last year, the president said: “I do not see how people can criticize the aircraft because it (Rafale) makes your country stronger.
“Macron said that France and India are entering a new era of defense cooperation with plans to jointly produce Rafale fighter jets as well as helicopters.“With regard to the Rafale aircraft, what we want to do is expansion. A few days ago, India confirmed its readiness to fly a new set of Rafale aircraft… 114… and co-production in India,” he said. India’s expected order for 114 more Rafale jets is a “new step forward” in defense ties. Regarding India’s request to increase local content in joint production of the aircraft, Macron said: “It is very clear that we are very committed, as I say, to sourcing as many Indian components as possible and manufacturing as many important devices in India as possible.
…We will have increased cooperation in maintenance and diversification.Showing his desire to sell more French submarines to India, Macron cited the relationship with Rafale to make his case. “I hope we will do it on submarines. We have demonstrated additional capabilities,” he said. The Indian Navy currently operates six French Scorpene-class submarines, and there are plans to acquire more – at least three – of these submarines from France in the near future.The president said India’s quest to participate in the production of Rafale fighter jets is a “legitimate” ambition that is in line with “the trend of history… Rafale is the key.” He stressed the necessity of this partnership in the long term, and expected India’s needs for advanced aviation to grow in the coming decades. “Looking at 2040 and 2050, I am telling you that India will need combat aviation,” Macron said.“We do not have a strategic partnership, we have a global spatial strategic partnership, which is unique to both France and India,” he said.Macron’s reaction came just days after the Rajnath Singh-led Defense Procurement Council gave in-principle clearance to purchase 114 more Rafale jets, and the defense minister discussed the aircraft deal with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin as part of the annual India-France defense dialogue on Tuesday.
