India to make Rafale jets with France in boost to defence ties, Macron says

NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (Reuters) – France and India have entered a new era of defense cooperation with plans to jointly produce Rafale fighter jets and helicopters, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, adding that France hoped to sell more submarines to India.

India’s expected order for 114 more Rafales is “a new step forward” in defense ties between the two countries, and France hopes it will be repeated on submarines, Macron told reporters at the end of his three-day visit to India.

“What we want to do on the Rafale is to expand. India confirmed a few days ago its willingness to command a new batch of Rafales… 114… and its willingness to co-produce in India,” Macron said.

India’s Defense Acquisition Council last week gave the defense ministry initial approval for the purchase of 114 more Rafale jets for the air force, among other aircraft and missiles, months after the worst conflict between India and Pakistan in decades.

India has so far purchased 36 Rafales for its air force and ordered 26 more naval versions of the jet for the navy.

Details of the Rafale agreement, which includes co-production plans that are expected to be signed after technical and commercial negotiations, have not yet been made public. In the news in the Indian media, it was stated that the 114 jets produced by Dassault Aviation are expected to cost 3.25 trillion rupees ($35.65 billion).

They also reported that up to 90 of the 114 jets could be produced in India with a yet-to-be-identified joint venture partner.

“Rafale is absolutely key,” Macron said. “I hope we will do the same in submarines. We have offered additional capacities.”

The Indian navy operates six French Scorpene submarines and local media reports indicate that there are plans to order more.

On Tuesday, Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to build the first H125 helicopter assembly line in India by a joint venture between Airbus and ‌Tata Advanced Systems, as well as joint production of HAMMER missiles in India by Safran and India’s state-owned Bharat Electronics.

Rafale jets flown by the Indian Air Force were the center of attention during India’s conflict with Pakistan last May.

Citing US officials, Reuters reported that Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C jets shot down at least one Rafale.

New Delhi confirmed the airborne casualties but did not acknowledge that a Rafale was shot down.

($1 = 91.1680 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by YP Rajesh and Susan Fenton)