New Delhi: India and France have agreed to cooperate for joint development A fighter aircraft engine that will power an indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet called the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and possibly a naval aircraft. The agreement took place during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris this week.
The engine program is part of the Horizon 2047 document for India-France strategic partnership that was released on Friday. After talks between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Modi was on a two-day visit to France from Thursday.
The roadmap sets the direction for bilateral relations till 2047, which will celebrate the centenary of India’s independence, the centenary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50 years of strategic partnership.
The two countries are also working towards adopting a roadmap on defense industrial cooperation.
The document outlines a roadmap to expand existing “unprecedented defense cooperation” into advanced aeronautical technologies, saying the objective will be achieved “by supporting joint development of fighter aircraft engines”.
It added that a roadmap will be drawn up between French firm Safran and India for the project Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) before the end of this year. In view of the increase in defense industrial cooperation between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office of DRDO at its Embassy in Paris.
impression It was the first to report that jet engine collaboration would be one of the key outcomes of Modi’s visit to France.
Other Areas of Cooperation
While India is going with the US to manufacture the GE F414 engine in India to power the Tejas Mk 2 aircraft, the focus is now on jointly developing AMCA and a more powerful engine to power the twin engine deck based fighter aircraft. on developing.
India and France Also supported industrial collaboration for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) program with Safran Helicopter Engines, France.
To enable progress on the IMRH programme, a shareholders’ agreement has been concluded between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India and Safran Helicopter Engines, France, for engine development.
“These ventures are in line with the spirit of trust that exists between India and France in joint development and sharing of critical components and technology building blocks, based on the successful Indo-French experience in technology transfer.” document Said.
Talking about the submarine programme, the Horizon 2047 document states that India and France appreciate the success of the first Scorpene submarine construction program (P75-Kalvari) – a model of ‘Make in India’ and both countries Naval expertise is to be shared between the companies of ,
“They (India and France) welcome the MoU between Mazagon Dockyard Limited and Naval Group for the construction of three additional submarines under the P75 programme. The document states that India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance.
The vision document states that other examples of this defense industrial partnership based on mutual trust include the contract concluded between Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL for transfer of technology of forgings and castings for the Shakti engine, which will power India’s indigenous helicopter fleet. gives power to.
An MoU was also signed between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Naval Groupe France for cooperation in the field of surface vessels to meet the requirement of Indian and international naval forces, the document said.
France is one of India’s key partners in the development of a self-reliant defense industrial and technological base.
“India and France commit to cooperate in the co-development and co-production of advanced defense technologies, including for the benefit of third countries,” the vision document said.
(Editing by Richa Mishra)
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