INDIA AND France will extend their “ground-breaking” defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine and an engine for the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH), which is being designed and developed by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This was announced in the joint statement released on Friday, the concluding day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris. The development comes a month after the US-based General Electric (GE) Aerospace signed an agreement with HAL to produce F414 engines for the IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft Mk2 jets with an 80 per cent technology transfer. The engine has a thrust of 98 kN. A GE statement last month had also highlighted its selection for the prototype development, testing and certification of India’s ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. India has been in talks with a few global firms, including the French aircraft engine manufacturer Safran SA, for developing engines for the AMCA Mk II – India’s futuristic fifth generation fighter aircraft for its Air Force – with full technology transfer for over a year now. The AMCA would require an engine of a higher thrust of 110 kN. In the joint statement, both countries also said they will support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the IMRH programme with the French Safran Helicopter Engine. It said that a Shareholders’ Agreement between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engine has been concluded for engine development. As reported by The Indian Express in February, HAL officials have said that these indigenous 13-tonne helicopters would be ready in the next eight to 10 years to replace the Russian Mi-17s, which will start getting phased out by 2028. The helicopters will be capable of supporting air assault, air transport, combat logistics, combat search and rescue, and casualty evacuation operations. They will also have a naval variant — the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter. “These ventures are in line with the spirit of trust that prevails between India and France in the sharing and joint development of critical components and technology building blocks, based on the successful Indo-French experience in technology transfer,” the joint statement said. It said other examples of this defence industrial partnership include the contract being concluded between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine, which powers helicopters built by HAL, including the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv and Light Combat Helicopter Prachand. “This is also reflective of the French commitment to support technology transfer and Make in India,” it said. Stating that France is one of India’s key partners in the development of a self-reliant defence industrial and technological base, it said that both countries “are committed to cooperating in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence technologies, including for the benefit of third countries”. About the other big-ticket defence deals announced during the visit, the joint statement said that both countries welcome the timely delivery of the 36 Rafale ordered by India, in line with their outstanding cooperation in military aviation spanning over five decades. It also said that both countries hail the success of the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 – Kalvari), a model of Make in India and the sharing of naval expertise between companies in the two countries. “India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance,” it said. Earlier in the week, the Defence Acquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accorded preliminary approval to procure 26 Rafale Marine fighters to operate off India’s aircraft carriers and three additional Scorpene submarines from France. Other major defence collaborations highlighted by the statement include a MoU between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and Naval Group France to collaborate in the field of surface ships to fulfil the requirement of India and International Naval forces. “To this end, both countries are also working towards adopting a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation,” it said. It said that in view of the uptick in defence industrial collaborations between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office of the DRDO at its Embassy in Paris
