India, France agree to ramp up military cooperation

Tactical Frog

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...military-cooperation/articleshow/61281088.cms

India, France agree to ramp up military cooperation
NEW DELHI: India and France have decided to further crank up military-to-military ties, including joint combat exercises, as well as enhance cooperation in maritime security and counter-terrorism towards expanding their bilateral strategic partnership.

The delegation-level meeting+ led by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her French counterpart Florence Parly, who is here in the run-up to President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India in December, on Friday also agreed to "strongly support" projects for defence manufacturing under the "Make in India" initiative as well as promote defence technology and R&D cooperation.

In an exclusive interview with TOI+ on Thursday, Parly had said France would take "into account your country's legitimate interest of having 'Make in India' components" if India decides to go in for another 36 Rafale fighters, after the first 36 jets are delivered to IAF by 2022 under the Rs 59,000 crore deal inked in September last year.

French Naval Group-DCNS, of course, is also among the four contenders for Project-75 (India), under which six advanced stealth submarines are to be built in India through collaboration between a foreign ship-builder and an Indian shipyard for an estimated Rs 70,000 crore. The French armament company is already involved in the construction of six Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai under the over Rs 23,000 crore Project-75.

At the meeting on Friday, the two sides agreed on a range of measures to expand military-to-military ties, which includes enhancing the scope of their joint exercises, in particular the "Varuna" naval exercise scheduled for early 2018. "Both countries will also actively explore additional measures to facilitate operational level interactions between their respective armed forces," said an official.
 

sorcerer

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In an exclusive interview with TOI+ on Thursday, Parly had said France would take "into account your country's legitimate interest of having 'Make in India' components" if India decides to go in for another 36 Rafale fighters, after the first 36 jets are delivered to IAF by 2022 under the Rs 59,000 crore deal inked in September last year.
Only if we order another 36 will FRANCE feel that it India has legitimate interest. That shows France has milking interest in the name of make in India.

Somebody should script the French people what to talk.
 

Tactical Frog

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Only if we order another 36 will FRANCE feel that it India has legitimate interest. That shows France has milking interest in the name of make in India.

Somebody should script the French people what to talk.
Under the offsets clauses of Rafale deal several Make in India projects will take off . Dassault is even seriously thinking about moving Falcon 2000 production in India. But here we are not talking of components of Rafale fighter jet itself . The next batch of 36 Rafale will necessary involve local production of Rafale components.
 

Willy2

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Very pleased to see the warm welcome given to our new Defence Minister by Indian authorities ! A sign that the industrial defence partnership is now very robust.
Why euro flag wasn't there ? is't Euro flag always stays besides flag of every euro-nation ?
 

Tactical Frog

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Not than I know when abroad. Seems we use the European flag more and more often alongside national flag though. I don’t have a problem with this actually.
 

Tactical Frog

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https://www.dassault-aviation.com/e...cturing-facility-in-mihan-nagpur-inaugurated/


Dassault – Reliance Aerospace manufacturing facility in Mihan, Nagpur inaugurated


MIHAN – Nagpur, India –Friday, October 27, 2017 : Eric Trappier, Chairman of Dassault Aviation and Anil D. Ambani, Chairman of the Reliance Group today laid the Foundation Stone for the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited manufacturing facility in Mihan, Nagpur located in India’s western state of Maharashtra.

The Foundation Stone was laid in the presence of Ms. Florence Parly, Minister of Armed Forces of the French Republic; Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, who is also the Member of Parliament of the city of Nagpur; and Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra; and H.E. Mr. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India. Also present were over 200 dignitaries from the State and City administration and local industry.

The Dassault-Reliance manufacturing facility Dhirubhai Ambani Technology Park is located in the Mihan SEZ adjoining Nagpur International Airport. Under this Joint Venture (51% Reliance Infrastructure and 49% Dassault Aviation) the facility will manufacture several components of the offset obligation connected to the purchase of 36 Rafale Fighters from France, signed between the two Governments in September 2016.

DRAL will manufacture components for the Legacy Falcon 2000 Series of Civil Jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation and thus will become part of its Global Supply Chain. These first steps are expected to achieve in the coming yearsthe possible setting up of final assembly of Rafale and Falcon Aircraft.

The Joint Venture also represents a unequalled Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Dassault Aviation of over 100 Million Euros, the largest such Defence FDI in one location in India.

The DRAL facility will train thousands of skilled workers in aviation assembly and integration, and lead to huge employment generation in Nagpur and its surrounding areas. It will also attract and house an organic ecosystem of over 200 MSME’s to secure the component and avionics manufacturing needs of Rafale and Falcon Jets.

Dassault Aviation Chairman, Mr. Eric Trappier, declared that “this Foundation Stone laying demonstrates Dassault’s firm commitment to implementing Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” program. It gives the 65 year-long strong association of Dassault-Aviation in India a new momentum and the will of future manufacturing developments.”

Reliance Group Chairman, Anil D. Ambani, stated “this facility in Mihan, Nagpur within the Aerospace Park named after my Late Father Shri. Dhirubhai Ambani could not have happened without the strong and consistent support of Shri. Nitin Gadkari and Shri. Devendra Fadnavis. The Reliance Dassault partnership will bring high levels of Technology Transfer. It will make India a major supplier into the global aviation supply chain. It will be the endeavor of both Dassault and Reliance to fully support Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” and “Skill India” policies and to accelerate India’s pursuit of self sufficiency in the aerospace sector.”
 

Tactical Frog

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General Lecointre meets with his counterpart, Admiral Lanba. India, a strategic partner in the Indian Ocean and South Asia.

Exchanging gifts I see o_O
 

Tactical Frog

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France seeking strategic ties with India in the Indian Ocean, keen to form trilateral along with Australia
By Sujan Dutta| Express News Service |Published: 15th November 2017 07:48 PM


French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in a press conference, Sept. 4, 2017.| AP
NEW DELHI: France is seeking a deeper strategic partnership with India in the Indian Ocean and is keen to have Australia on board to form a trilateral. Talks between India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and the visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, later this week are likely to focus on the French proposal.

“France has strong interest in the Indian Ocean Region. We are working on more structures and more operational cooperation in preparation for the presidential visit early next year,” the French Ambassador in India, Alexandre Ziegler, said here on Wednesday.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit India in 2018. The dates for the visit have not yet been announced. A French diplomat said that France has 10 island territories in the Indian Ocean with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2 million sq km, comparable to that of India.

France maintains two major naval bases, in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, and at Reunion Island about 175 south-west of Mauritius. The naval base in Reunion is France’s third-largest. Some of the island territories are south of the Equator. France has a near permanent deployment of 20,000 soldiers in the Indian Ocean, said the diplomat.

The proposal for more “structures and operational cooperation” is riding a crest in India-France military relations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Paris last year the award of a contract for 36 Rafale fighter jets. The first French Scorpene-class submarine, built in Mumbai, is also due for commissioning.

Last year, India signed a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US. Indian warships and fighter aircraft will be able to refuel at US bases on a barter basis since the LEMOA was inked.

France’s proposal could now mean that both Indian and French, and possibly Australian militaries would develop “longer sea legs”.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/wor...to-form-trilateral-along-with-aus-1701805.amp
 

Tactical Frog

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Trying to connect some dots there ...

Australia will operate Barracuda Shortfin
Admiral Sunil Lanba was briefed about Barracuda class
French FM pushes idea of a trilateral cooperation between France, India and Australia

There is no smoke without fire.
 

sthf

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Australia will operate Barracuda Shortfin
Admiral Sunil Lanba was briefed about Barracuda class
Assies can afford to buy a $3 billion conventional sub, we can't. Nothing to look here.
 

Tactical Frog

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“India is all set to firm up a defence logistics agreement with France, just like the LEMOA with the United States. The move will allow India access to French military bases in the Indian Ocean and the Horn of Africa, and round off another critical part of enhancing its military presence in these waters to counter China.

The agreement, which is expected to be signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in early March, was firmed up around the time New Delhi worked out the fine-print with Seychelles to build and operate a military base there.”

.....

“The LEMOA with the US provides India access to Diego Garcia, the biggest American base in the Indian Ocean, besides Guam, on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

In the same way, the logistics agreement with France will allow India access to the strategically important French base in the Reunion Islands near Madagascar. This is typically the French area of colonial influence, where another opening will be the French facilities in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) already operates a military base here, its first such base overseas.”

https://theprint.in/2018/01/31/a-new-defence-deal-with-france-gives-india-a-foothold-in-indian-ocean/amp/
 

nongaddarliberal

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France seeking strategic ties with India in the Indian Ocean, keen to form trilateral along with Australia
By Sujan Dutta| Express News Service |Published: 15th November 2017 07:48 PM


French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in a press conference, Sept. 4, 2017.| AP
NEW DELHI: France is seeking a deeper strategic partnership with India in the Indian Ocean and is keen to have Australia on board to form a trilateral. Talks between India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and the visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, later this week are likely to focus on the French proposal.

“France has strong interest in the Indian Ocean Region. We are working on more structures and more operational cooperation in preparation for the presidential visit early next year,” the French Ambassador in India, Alexandre Ziegler, said here on Wednesday.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit India in 2018. The dates for the visit have not yet been announced. A French diplomat said that France has 10 island territories in the Indian Ocean with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2 million sq km, comparable to that of India.

France maintains two major naval bases, in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, and at Reunion Island about 175 south-west of Mauritius. The naval base in Reunion is France’s third-largest. Some of the island territories are south of the Equator. France has a near permanent deployment of 20,000 soldiers in the Indian Ocean, said the diplomat.

The proposal for more “structures and operational cooperation” is riding a crest in India-France military relations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Paris last year the award of a contract for 36 Rafale fighter jets. The first French Scorpene-class submarine, built in Mumbai, is also due for commissioning.

Last year, India signed a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with the US. Indian warships and fighter aircraft will be able to refuel at US bases on a barter basis since the LEMOA was inked.

France’s proposal could now mean that both Indian and French, and possibly Australian militaries would develop “longer sea legs”.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/wor...to-form-trilateral-along-with-aus-1701805.amp
What is France's position on the South China sea dispute? Is it vocal about it?
 

Tactical Frog

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What is France's position on the South China sea dispute? Is it vocal about it?
Well. During last Shangri La dialogue meeting, in June 2016, then Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said "we must be firm vis-a-vis actions which undermine the foundations of the int'l order", and added "We will sail in South China Sea. We will fly. We will ask our European neighbors to join our patrols.".

So that is we do ... sailing. French Navy Fremm frigate “Auvergne” was seen in South China sea last October: But not enough ships to stay permanently in the area and scare the Chinese o_O
 

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