The India-France defence relationship goes back almost to the beginning of India’s post-independence rearmament. France has been the strategic go-to partner for a top-of-the-line, most technologically advanced force multiplier weapons platform.
In the 1950s India purchased several French fighter jets, including the Dassault Ouragan and Mystere IV. Over the years, the two countries have cooperated in various fields of defence; in particular, India has turned to France for Fighter jets that can be tuned to deliver nuclear weapons as was the case with Mirage 2000. That the Mirage 2000 retains pride of place in the IAF even today was demonstrated by its employment in the Balakot cross-border terror elimination strike.
France has also been a partner in the development of nuclear technology and missile systems. In recent years, India has emerged as a major buyer of French military hardware, with several high-profile deals being signed between them.
France-supplied weapons add frontline technological quality to Russian weapon platforms that make the quantitative power of the Indian force structure. This is a match-up that India has traditionally relied upon for arming her forces.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE NARCOTICS MENACE
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2023 Annual Report, prepared in accordance with the international drug control treaties, examines the global drug control situation and makes recommendations to governments and regional and international organizations. It focuses on the role of the Internet, including social media, in JALLAL TOUFIQ, President of the INCB, explores the challenges and opportunities for drug control, prevention, and treatment in the era of the Internet, with a landscape of online drug
DEALING WITH THE DRAGON
Not Containing, but Countering China, in the Indo-Pacific is now the norm of all the leading countries of the region, writes CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA
UNENDING WAR IN UKRAINE
Is Russia's War in Ukraine following a script or it is lost in direction? RAVI SRIVASTAVA attempts to answer
INDIA MUST RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING
India has to conduct open ended nuclear tests to secure a modicum of data, which will be infinitely more accurate than information derived from inertial confinement fusion facility (ICF) and supercomputer simulations.
ASYMMETRIC MARITIME THREATS & CHALLENGES
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why and how it is imperative to counter asymmetric threats in the maritime domain in India's area of interest
DRDO'S MPATGM
Indian Army gets more teeth for Anti-Tank Warfare, reports GIRISH LINGANNA
SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS: THE PATH TO 2029
India must tread the path towards development of a whole gamut of next-generation smart and lethal weapons for countering a two-front threat scenario, argues AMARTYA SINHA
ROHDE & SCHWARZ EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN INDIA BY OPENING NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN DELHI
In a strategic move to amplify its offerings and reinforce its market presence, Rohde & Schwarz India (RSINDIA), a subsidiary of the global technology group Rohde & Schwarz GmbH KG & Co, has officially inaugurated a new facility, aiming to significantly enhance its service offerings in the Indian market. The expansion heralds a pivotal moment in RSINDIA'S history, with its Managing Director, YATISH MOHAN, alongside key figures from the R&S Global Office including DR. ALEXANDER ORELLANO, Executive Vice President, and RALF WATAMANIUK, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, providing insights into the company's steady climb to prominence.
SUBMARINE-KILLER CAPABILITY: SMART MISSILE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
The supersonic missile-assisted torpedo (SMART) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully test-launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on May 1. The test confirmed velocity control, ejection, and symmetric separation.
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.
