Indian Navy to get 26 Rafale-M fighters and 3 Scorpene submarines from France
Giving a major boost to their bilateral defence and strategic ties, India and France are likely to sign two deals for the acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets and 3 Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Paris starting July 13. The total cost of the two deals is more than Rs.90,000 crores. Prime Minister Modi is the guest of honour for the French National Day on July 14. The two countries are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership.
The Scorpene submarines will be constructed at the Mazagon Docks, Mumbai where the two countries earlier built six Scorpene class submarines now named Kalvari class of submarines. It will be a government-to-government deal like the naval version of Rafale jets, sources said here on Monday. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)is likely to approve the Acceptance of Necessity (AON) for the two projects in the next few days before the Prime Minister’s visit.
The three additional Kalvari class submarines will be fitted with air-independent propulsion (AIP), which has been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) but will be tested and validated by the French Naval Group. The AIP gives longer endurance to a normal diesel attack submarine and allows it to remain submerged for over a week without the need to surface to charge its batteries.
Sources said the DAC is likely the give the nod for the acquisition of 26 Rafale-M aircraft for aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya and the price, terms and conditions will be negotiated after this through the government-to-government route with the French government. The Indian pilots will be trained in France as well as on advanced simulators in Goa. It was also learnt, the two countries are also likely to ink a defence-industrial road map to push India to scale up its manufacturing of hardware platforms through indigenously developed engines and technologies.
Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron will also unveil a bilateral road map for the Indo-Pacific with specific steps to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security for sea lanes in the area contested by a rising China. The proposed Rafale deal includes 22 single-seater and four double-seater trainer versions, sources said adding the three additional submarines will be part of the Scorpene deal under Project 75.
The Indian Navy is facing a shortage of aircraft and submarines in recent years, emphasizing the urgent need to meet their requirements. France has also offered to co-develop and manufacture higher thrust engines in India to power the future twin-engine combat aircraft developed by the DRDO and this issue may also figure during Modi’s visit, sources said. France has also offered to manufacture top-end missiles and loiter ammunition in India under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” route.
As regards the French National Day, Indian Air Force Rafale jets will take part in the flypast in Paris along with the French Air Force jets. Moreover, a nearly 300-strong marching contingent of the three Indian Services will also take in the marching parade along with the French contingents.
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