India, France may jointly develop, produce combat aircraft engines

New Delhi July 5: India and its trusted strategic partner France may usher in a new era in defence partnership that could boost the military industrial complex in India through co-development and co-production. This complex could bring in a new age of defence exports to third countries.
It is believed that the French government has given a nod to defence major Safran to jointly design, develop, test, manufacture and finally certify an engine that will power India’s twin engine Advanced Multi-role Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and the twin engine deck-based fighter for Indian aircraft carriers.
Sources have confirmed the Hindustan Times that the 100 per cent transfer of technology offered by the French Safran is free from US International Trade in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and the proposed 110 kilo newton engine will be fully ‘Made in India’.
DRDO chief Dr Samir V Kamat paid a special visit to the Safran engine factory and the R&D centre near Paris on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2023 Paris Air Show. The engine proposal has been under discussion under the defence minister and NSA-led strategic dialogue with France, the newspaper reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting France on July 13 and he will take part in the Bastille Day Parade on July 14 as the Guest of Honour.
He is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Macron on July 13. The Indian Air force’s Rafale fighter will be participating in the Bastille Day fly-past on July 14.
The year 2023 marks 25 years of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. Launched by France and India on January 26, 1998, on the occasion of President Jacques Chirac’s visit to India, it embodies the will of both nations to develop their respective strategic independence by drawing on concrete bilateral cooperation in order to maintain peace and global security. (IANS)