Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said that Rafale fighter jets will boost India’s military strength and that he is committed to having more indigenous content in ‘made-in-India Rafale’, as sought by the Modi govt.Speaking on the sidelines of the AI-India Summit at the end of his three-day visit, Macron told the French and Indian media, “Rafale improves the strategic relations between us, and it creates more jobs here.” On criticism in some western quarters over the performance of the 4.5-gen fighter, especially during Operation Sindoor last year, the President said, “I don’t see how people can criticise the aircraft because it (Rafale) makes your country stronger.”Macron said France and India are entering a new era of defence cooperation with plans to jointly produce Rafale fighter jets as well as helicopters.“On Rafale, what we want to do is expand. India confirmed a few days ago its willingness to command a new bunch of Rafales… 114… and to co-produce in India,” he said. India’s expected order for another 114 Rafales is a “new step forward” in defence ties. On India’s demand for increasing indigenous content in the jet’s co-production, Macron said, “Very clearly, we are extremely, I would say, committed to having a maximum number of Indian components and manufacturing a maximum number of critical devices in India…. We will have increased cooperation in maintenance and diversification.”Showing his willingness to sell more French submarines to India, Macron cited the tie-up on Rafales to make his case. “I hope we will do it on submarines. We have offered additional capacities,” he said. The Indian Navy currently operates six French Scorpene submarines and there are plans to have more — at least three — such submarines from France in the near future.The President said India’s push to co-produce Rafale fighter jets is a “legitimate” ambition that aligns with the “direction of history…. Rafale is the key.” He underscored the long-term necessity of this partnership, predicting that India’s requirement for advanced aviation will only grow in the coming decades. “Looking ahead to 2040 and 2050, I am telling you, India will need combat aviation,” Macron said.“We don’t have a strategic partnership, we have a global spatial strategic partnership, which is unique for both France and India,” he said.Macron’s reaction came just days after the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council gave the initial clearance for acquiring 114 more Rafale jets and the defence minister discussed the jet deal with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin as part of the India-France annual defence dialogue on Tuesday.
