![]() ![]() Building on the regular discussions between Macron and Modi, the Franco-Indian dialogue on maritime cooperation helped strengthen the strategic partnership between France and India. In October, the fifth session of the India-Franco maritime cooperation dialogue was also held in Paris. They had agreed to strengthen bilateral defence and security partnership through enhanced intelligence and information sharing, operational cooperation, bolstering mutual capabilities, expanding bilateral exercises and pursuing new initiatives in maritime, space and cyber domains. The minister had also called for continued Indo-French coordination, including at the UN Security Council, on Afghanistan.ĭuring the Strategic Dialogue and the meetings, France had stressed its continuing commitment to the Indo Pacific region, as a resident power, and partnership with India as a major pillar of its Indo Pacific strategy. Le Drian had underscored the importance of the mutual trust between France and India, as well as that of the Indo-French partnership in working to strengthen multilateralism and defend a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. Last week, India’s HAL began talks with Egypt and Argentina to export the Tejas Aircraft contract.During that visit, Doval also met French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Parly. “However, the explicit nature of the Indian RFI, which calls for a submarine with an operational fuel cell along with rather stringent technology transfer requirements, has thus far deterred contenders, compelling Sweden’s Saab, France’s Naval Group, Russia’s Rosoboronexport and even Spain’s Navantia Group to withdraw from the competition.” The company will also need to transfer a niche technology for fuel-cell-based air independent propulsion (AIP), a clause that has been a sore point for most foreign firms.Ībhijit Apsingikar, aerospace, defence, and security analyst at GlobalData, said: “The German government’s decision to pursue the $5.2 billion deal during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Indian visit between 25-26 February 2023 is likely to encourage competitiveness and resuscitate the P-75I submarine programme. This has left the submarine project for Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as the last international bidder on the shortlist. However, since then, Naval Group has withdrawn, and Reuters has reported that Spain’s Navantia Group is no longer in contention. ![]() These included ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Navantia and Naval Group as foreign partners. In August, when India announced that they would procure six submarines for the Navy, Naval Technology reported that the Defence Ministry of India shortlisted five foreign companies. This submersible project, P-75I, is said to be the county’s most significant ‘Make in India’ initiative. India has allocated $72.6bn to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), a body which oversees the research and development process in the country’s defence sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government wants India to manufacture more weapons at home in collaboration with foreign partners after decades of being one of the world’s largest arms importers. The Indian non-nuclear submarine market, inclusive of diesel AIP submarines (SSP), diesel electric submarines (SSK), and midget Ssbmarines (SSM), is collectively valued at $9.93bn between 20. Caption: Launched in November 2020, the INS Vagir. India has also witnessed China’s constant maritime expansionism in the Indian Ocean and has seen the country develop ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, leading to significant concerns for the Indian government. In India, the submarines are to replace its ageing submarine fleet, with its four diesel-electric submarines and one nuclear-powered attack submarine being the only submersibles to be acquired or manufactured in the last two decades, as it seeks to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean. The project is taking place in India as part of the Make in India initiative. ![]()
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