Indo-French defence deals on the cards

PARIS, MAY 14. The French Defence Minister, Mr. Alain Richard, will embark on a two- day visit to India this week during which both countries are expected to finalise crucial defence deals, besides working on a common strategic agenda.

Official sources said the Minister's visit, commencing on May 18, comes at a time when India and France maintain excellent bilateral relations with both sides pledging to convert their political ties into long-term defence cooperation.

Key defence deals, including the provision of 10 additional Mirage-2000-H jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and issues of naval cooperation, are expected to come up during Mr. Richard's talks with the Indian officials. Naval cooperation assumes significance as India envisages a bigger role in the coming years to protect its sea lines in the Indian Ocean region.

France has also offered to sell its latest Mirage 2000-D fighter jets, capable of carrying nuclear war heads, tracking eight hostile planes and countering four of them simultaneously. It has plans of selling Alpha jet trainer for the accident-prone IAF and rendering assistance in the manufacture of indigenously-designed submarines at the Mazagon docks in Mumbai. French assistance is considered important, following India's proposed plans to maintain a nuclear triad of land-based, aircraft-fitted and ship- launched missiles.

India's shopping list also includes French navigation equipment for its MIG-21 BIS jets and Turbomeca engines for its advanced light helicopter project.

Mr. Richard will meet the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, and the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, besides holding negotiations with top Defence Ministry officials.

His visit is expected to give direction to the Indo- French High Committee on Defence, which is aiming for service-to- service cooperation and establishing contacts between defence scientists of the two countries.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Next     : Decks cleared for Narayanan's visit to China