Paris/New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated India’s push for greater indigenous manufacturing in the defence sector during discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing that future defence cooperation should focus on co-development, co-production and co-manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative.
The issue was discussed during a high-level meeting between the two leaders in France, where both sides reviewed ongoing defence cooperation and explored opportunities to deepen strategic ties.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Prime Minister Modi consistently stressed the importance of increasing local manufacturing and technology partnerships during all his engagements in France.
“The Prime Minister emphasized that India wants a greater focus on Make in India. We are looking at co-development, co-production and co-manufacturing arrangements, and our preference is to have more production and value addition within India,” Misri said.
He clarified that the discussion was not limited to the proposed procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets but extended to other defence platforms and advanced technology collaborations as well.
According to Misri, both countries discussed increasing local content in manufacturing as well as strengthening cooperation in research and development.
The discussions come as India pursues a major deal for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) framework. India has already submitted a formal Letter of Request (LoR) to France, initiating the government-to-government procurement process.
Sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that India has placed several key conditions for the deal, including the integration of indigenous weapons systems and data links. Transfer of technology related to engines, airframes and avionics is also expected to be a significant component of the proposed agreement.
Apart from the Rafale programme, India and France are also exploring collaboration on the construction of three additional Scorpene-class submarines in India and joint development of advanced military engines.
French aerospace company Safran and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are already working together on the development of engines for India’s proposed 13-tonne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter. Safran is also collaborating with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) on a 120-kilonewton thrust engine for India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both countries expressed satisfaction over the growing depth of bilateral defence cooperation and agreed to further strengthen the partnership.
The two sides also resolved to intensify cooperation with a focus on co-design, co-development and co-production of defence platforms and advanced technologies.
French diplomatic sources recently indicated that France is comfortable with technology transfer arrangements and supports the inclusion of Make in India provisions in the Rafale deal. The sources also acknowledged that integration of Indian-made weapons into the aircraft is part of ongoing discussions.
French officials have emphasized that defence relations between India and France extend beyond a traditional buyer-seller framework and are increasingly based on long-term strategic and industrial collaboration.
