India and France Elevate Ties to Special Global Strategic Partnership

The leaders agreed to intensify joint research, co-design, co-development, and co-production of advanced defence platforms across air, naval, and land domains under the 2024 Defence Industrial Roadmap, including the creation of a Joint Advanced Technology Development Group for emerging technologies.

 They welcomed the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine jets, progress in helicopter and jet engine collaboration, expanded combat engine manufacturing under Make in India, the Safran-HAL IMRH project, and MRO facilities for LEAP and M-88 engines. A BEL joint venture will produce HAMMER missiles, and the Tata-Airbus H125 assembly line marks a milestone in indigenous aerospace manufacturing. France also expressed interest in India’s Pinaka MBRL.

A Technical Arrangement between DGA and DRDO will boost defence technology and defence space cooperation. 

They highlighted the success of the Scorpène (P75–Kalvari) submarine programme and ongoing bilateral exercises  Varuna, Shakti, and Garuda. Cooperation will continue in defence space, critical minerals, counter-terrorism, and Indo-Pacific security. France reaffirmed support for India’s permanent UN Security Council membership.