India and France are taking their defence partnership to the next level! The ongoing official visit of India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, to France is the latest sign of their deepening strategic relationship.
This whirlwind tour follows reciprocal visits by the countries' Prime Ministers at major national events, highlighting the close ties between the two nations.
General Chauhan's visit focuses on cementing multi-level defence connections – from top-level government discussions to collaborations between defence industries.
He's been meeting with France's top military leadership, including his French counterpart, CDS General Thierry Burkhard, as well as key figures in France's space and weapons development sectors.
The Indian CDS even got a glimpse into France's space military strategy with a visit to the French Space Command.
But the real excitement lies in General Chauhan's interactions with French defence giants like Safran, the Naval Group, and Dassault Aviation. India's armed forces are no strangers to French hardware, with the Air Force's iconic Rafale jets and the Navy's powerful Scorpene-class submarines leading the way.
India: France's Top Weapons Buyer
The scale of India's reliance on French military tech is staggering. According to a recent SIPRI report, India is the biggest buyer of French arms globally, accounting for a massive 30% of their exports. And it doesn't stop there – India's Navy is looking to add even more French-made Scorpene submarines to its fleet.The partnership extends beyond buying fancy weapons. Companies like Safran and India's HAL are joining forces to develop cutting-edge aerospace technologies, including new engines. It's a win-win scenario for both countries.
Military Maneuvers and Space Ambitions
India and France aren't just business partners; their militaries are getting in on the action too.France sent its maritime patrol aircraft to participate in India's massive naval exercise MILAN-24, and their Navy ships are gearing up for joint training with the Indian Navy.
Next month, troops from both nations will face off against mock terrorists in India's Meghalaya region during a joint army exercise. And in August, the French Air and Space Force will flex its muscles alongside India in the multinational Tarang Shakti exercise, even bringing their Rafale jets to join the party.
Plus, with ongoing naval drills and plans for a special tri-services exercise, the Indian and French militaries are becoming a well-oiled fighting machine.
India and France are also looking to the stars, with their Strategic Space Dialogue gaining momentum. Just last month, the dialogue's second edition took place in New Delhi, and India even participated as an observer in France's major military space exercise, AsterX.
