New Delhi, 05 June (H.S.):
During his three-day official visit to France, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh met representatives of major defence companies, advancing India’s Make in India initiative, and flew aboard an A400M from the Orléans airbase to assess the aircraft’s capabilities.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh held bilateral talks with Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, General Jérôme Bellenger, at the Ballard Air and Space Force Headquarters, where he received full military honours including a guard of honour. He also met General Vincent Girault, the Chief of the Military Staff to the President of the French Republic, and addressed officers at the École de Guerre and the École Militaire, including Indian officer cadets who are in France under an exchange programme. The Air Chief also visited the Mont-de-Marsan air combat centre.
The Indian Embassy in France stated that Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh’s visit strengthened the deep partnership between the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force. The Air Chief flew an A400M from the Orléans airbase and met delegations from leading defence firms such as Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA, helping further the Make in India initiative.
On 1 June, India issued a Letter of Request (LOR) to France for a major government-to-government purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets, a deal valued at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. Under the proposed arrangement, French company Dassault Aviation would partner with an Indian firm to manufacture 94 Rafales in India. The French side is expected to respond to India’s LOR or tender within the next two to three months, and discussions and finalisation of the deal could be completed within about a year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit France in mid-June, where the Rafale deal is likely to figure in talks with French leadership. The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafales, while the Navy has already ordered 26. Approval of the new order for 114 Rafales would raise India’s total to 176. The Indian Navy has also expressed interest in acquiring an additional 31 such aircraft to address maritime threats, which could push the overall Rafale strength in India to over 200.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
