Rafale to make India stronger, willing to increase its indigenous content; ready to sell more submarines: Macron | India News
New Delhi: French President Dr Emmanuel Macron Thursday Dr Rafale fighter jet India’s military will grow and he is committed to have more indigenous materials in the ‘Made-in-India Rafale’ as demanded by the Modi government.Speaking on the sidelines of the AI-India summit at the end of his three-day visit, Macron told French and Indian media, “The Rafale improves the strategic relationship between us and it creates more jobs here.” On the criticism in some Western circles over the performance of the 4.5-gen fighter, especially during Operation Sindur last year, the President said, “I don’t see how people can criticize the aircraft because it (Rafale) makes your country strong.“Macron said France and India are entering a new era of defense cooperation with plans to jointly build Rafale fighter jets and helicopters.“On Rafale, what we want to do is expand. India has confirmed a few days ago that it has a new batch of Rafale… 114… and is willing to co-produce it in India.” India’s expected order for 114 more Rafales is a “new step” in defense ties. Regarding India’s demand to increase indigenous content in the co-production of jets, Macron said, “Very clearly, we are very, I would say, committed to having the maximum number of Indian components and making the maximum number of critical devices in India…. We will increase cooperation in maintenance and diversification.”Showing his willingness to sell more French submarines to India, Macron cited the Rafales deal to make his case. “I hope we do it in submarines. We offer additional capabilities,” he said. The Indian Navy currently operates six French Scorpene submarines and plans to induct more — at least three — from France in the near future.The President said that India’s push to co-produce Rafale fighter jets is a “legitimate” ambition that is “consistent with the direction of history… Rafale is key.” He emphasized the long-term need for this partnership, predicting that India’s need for advanced aviation will only increase in the coming decades. “Looking to 2040 and 2050, I tell you, India will need combat aviation,” Macron said.“We don’t have a strategic partnership, we have a global spatial strategic partnership, unique to both France and India,” he said.Macron’s response came just days after the Rajnath Singh-led Defense Acquisition Council gave initial clearance to acquire 114 more Rafale jets and the defense minister discussed the jet deal with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin as part of the India-France annual defense dialogue on Tuesday.
