India and France have finalised a Defense Industrial Roadmap aimed at collaborating on the co-development, co-designing, and co-production of various defense items, with an emphasis on meeting the requirements of third countries as well, stated foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra. Additionally, the two nations have agreed on a roadmap for the defense aspects of the space sector during the summit between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jaipur.
The two leaders engaged in detailed discussions on defense industrial partnership, with a significant focus on the defense aspect of space sector partnership. It was emphasized that NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Arianespace have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for satellite launches during the summit. Tata Group and Airbus Helicopters agreed on an industrial partnership for H125 helicopters with a significant indigenous and localisation component.
During a special briefing held here following the Republic Day celebrations, where Macron served as the chief guest, the foreign secretary highlighted that discussions on defense partnership, among other topics, centered on the joint development of a combat aircraft engine, the acquisition of Rafale M fighters, and the construction of Scorpeneclass submarines.
The two sides have also agreed on health sector cooperation and five-year Schengen visa for MA alumni in France among other issues. An agreement was signed between the two countries' ministries of health on healthcare cooperation, education, training, and research, Kwatra said.