NEW DELHI: India has formally offered the indigenous Pinaka multi-launch artillery rocket systems to France at the highest-level, even as it finalises direct acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighters from the country and collaboration in construction of three additional Scorpene submarines.
During his talks with President Macron, PM Modi invited the French Army to take “a closer look” at the Pinaka, emphasizing that an acquisition of this system by France would be “another milestone” in the bilateral defence ties.
India is already exporting the Pinaka to Armenia, while some Asean and African countries have also shown interest in acquiring the system. DRDO has developed a variety of ammunition for the Pinaka, including rockets with 45-km extended range and 75-km guided extended range, and the plan is to further enhance them to 120-km and then to 300-km.
The India-France joint statement said both sides also welcomed the ongoing discussions in missiles, helicopter engines and jet engines. A collaboration between French major Safran, which already makes helicopter engines in India, and DRDO to co-develop the 110 Kilonewton jet engine for the Indian fifth-generation stealth fighter project called AMCA (advanced medium combat aircraft) is under discussion, as reported by TOI earlier.
India’s impending Rs 63,000 crore acquisition of 22 single-seat Rafale-Marine jets and four twin-seat trainers to operate from indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which is now with the PM-led cabinet committee on security for the final nod, did not find mention in the joint statement.
It, however, did refer to the impending Rs 33,500 crore project for construction of three additional diesel-electric Scorpene submarines at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks (MDL) in collaboration with the French M/s Naval Group. These three will add to the first six Scorpene or Kalvari-class submarines constructed at MDL for over Rs 23,000 crore.
Modi and Macron “commended” the collaboration in construction of Scorpene submarines in India, including indigenization, and in particular the work carried out towards integrating the DRDO-developed air-independent propulsion (AIP) into the Scorpene submarines and the analyses conducted regarding the possible integration of the integrated combat system into the three new boats.
Macron also welcomed India’s joining the multi-nation `Eurodrone’ medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely-piloted aircraft programme, which he said is another step forward in the growing strength of our partnership in defence equipment programmes.