Some times I feel French are a really strategic partners of India, they some kind of presence in all critical sectors of India
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They are....its not just a feeling.
President Macron just now put out really strong statement to help India in whatever way possible on corona 2nd wave crisis (while US dithers still on crucial vaccine inputs for our manufacturers).
I remember France was one of few countries to respect Indian nuclear testing of 1998 (though they retracted the original congratulatory telegram under pressure from others).
Their assistance and cooperation with both ISRO and BARC goes back a long time (and many see the downstream flourishing it without understanding the significance of the earliest cooperation). It was helped a lot by them taking independent "Gaullist" approach w.r.t US during cold war.
ISRO would be behind what it is today without Viking/Vikas engine at that crucial juncture to mature SLV-->ASLV--->PSLV for example. BARC would also be behind in its reactor miniaturisation capability (crucial to our SSBN and SSN program this century).
So further expansion into transport, aviation, logistics, communications, engineering and of course energy (Nuclear power) is guaranteed given this. Even during 80s, my dad for example was part of India-France cooperation on internships in France in communications area....about half of my francophilia probably comes from my dad account there which was extremely positive and glowing.
France population size is only 1/6th of US, so their geopolitical influence overall w.r.t India was/is somewhat hemmed in by it....but they have done quite well with the hand they had and have....and picked and prioritised quite well to develop this relation in crucial areas of vital importance to India.
It traces back long time, be it assistance they give to Tipu Sultan, their asylum they give to our freedom fighters at various time during our struggle against British....and also their quick+friendly return of French india territories after independence. They set up the platform quite well for relations with independent modern day India going forward.
@Vergennes
Six EPRs at the Jaitapur site: EDF submits binding offer to NPCIL
EDF submits to the Indian nuclear operator NPCIL the French binding techno-commercial offer to build six EPRs at the Jaitapur site.
On 22 April 2021, EDF submitted to NPCIL the French binding techno-commercial offer to supply engineering studies and equipment for the construction of six (6) EPR reactors at the Jaitapur site, Maharashtra, India. This major milestone for EDF, its partners and the French nuclear industry will enable discussions aimed at converging towards a binding framework agreement in the coming months.
The offer is the culmination of the work carried out jointly with NPCIL further to the signature of the Industrial Way Forward Agreement on 10 March 2018 in Delhi in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India and of the President of the French Republic, and to the submission of EDF’s non-binding proposal at the end of 2018. On that basis, the offer from EDF and its partners includes:
- the detailed technical configuration of the reactors, taking into account the information provided by NPCIL on the Jaitapur site conditions and the joint comprehensive work performed by EDF and NPCIL ;
- the associated comprehensive commercial terms and conditions for the supply of engineering studies and equipment for six (6) EPR reactors.
- EDF provides the EPR technology: as such, the Group supplies engineering studies and equipment for the construction of six (6) reactors. The Group relies on the know-how of its subsidiary Framatome to supply the engineering studies and equipment for the six (6) nuclear steam supply systems, and partners with its historical partner GE Steam Power for the supply of the engineering studies and equipment of the six (6) conventional islands, all of which are to be equipped with the French ArabelleTM steam turbine; EDF guarantees the performance of each of the 6 EPR units under specific conditions and for a predefined period of time; finally, EDF offers training services for NPCIL’s future operating teams. EDF is neither an investor in the project nor in charge of the construction.
- NPCIL is responsible for the construction and the commissioning of each of the six (6) units of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant, as well as for obtaining all necessary permits and consents in India, including the certification of the EPR technology by the Indian safety regulator, as the owner and future operator of the plant; during the construction phase, NPCIL may benefit from EDF and its partners’ assistance, notably regarding the sharing of other EPR project-related lessons learned.
- in-depth work to identify Indian companies that could be selected as suppliers of the project; to date, some 200 companies have already been pre-qualified;
- the setup of an engineering platform in India, in particular to carry out part of the detailed engineering studies and all execution plans;
- the launch of a pre-feasibility study, conducted by EDF, I2EN (International Institute of Nuclear Energy) and VJTI (Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute), for the establishment of a centre of excellence in India aiming to train engineers and technicians, and to support the development of the necessary set of skills for the project.
The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant project is a cornerstone of the bilateral cooperation between France and India: with an installed capacity of 9.6 GWe, the plant would be the most powerful in the world; it would generate up to 75 TWh per year and cover the annual consumption of 70 million Indian households while avoiding the emission of 80 million tons of CO2 per year [1].
[1] Estimate based on a typical carbon dioxide emission for a coal-fired plant, equivalent to 1000g CO2/KWh. Based on the average Indian energy mix AIE 2017, the emissions avoided would be equal to 53Mt CO2/year
Six EPRs at the Jaitapur site: EDF submits binding offer to NPCIL
EDF submits to the Indian nuclear operator NPCIL the French binding techno-commercial offer to build six EPRs at the Jaitapur site.
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As stated, Ex Varuna commences now, and (pics etc) can be updated to this thread might as well. I will change title of thread to reflect it.
The 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ from 25th to 27th April 2021. From the Indian Navy’s side, destroyer INS Kolkata, frigates INS Tarkash n INS Talwar, FSS INS Deepak, with Seaking and Chetak, a Kalvari class sub and P8I Aircraft
French Navy ships include aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with its carrier air wing (Rafale marine, E-2C Hawkeye, helicopters Caïman marine and Dauphin), one multi-mission frigate, Provence, one air defence destroyer, Chevalier Paul, and one command and supply ship.
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Gary
Experienced member
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Is there any scheduled exercise between other European Navy with IN in short notice after la perouse and Varuna ?
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I believe UK Q.E carrier group will be having some exercises with IN soon (in May-June somewhere):
UK carrier strike group will sail to India on its maiden deployment
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-will-sail-to-india-on-its-maiden-deployment As a representation of the ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ in the UK’s foreign policy, the HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier – the largest ship ever built by the Royal Navy – will sail to India, Japan, South...
defencehub.live
Other than that, I think thats it for UK, France (European blue water navies) for 2021 w.r.t India I think. Not sure about any others that may venture out (I think Germany said something about doing a naval passage in indo-pacific this year, but not sure).
Later in year will be mostly regional navy exercises incl (I think) Singapore, Thailand, Gulf countries, SL etc as far as IN goes (scheduled, confirmed stuff etc)
I think honestly India should also ramp up exercises in bilateral manner with both Indonesia and Australia too. In fact in the video I posted recently in INA navy section, they talk about a trilateral exercise involving these 3 navies as being a good idea.
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India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in advanced negotiations with the French government to lease one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for training purposes.
The lease of this aircraft, which would be operated by the IAF but maintained by the French Air Force, is likely to be succeeded by the lease of five additional A330 MRTTs to augment the reach and combat capability of IAF fighters, official sources told Janes on 29 April.
The French Air Force would also instruct IAF personnel in operating the tankers.
Senior IAF officers said it was only “natural” for the service to opt for the A330 MRTT as tankers of the type operated by the French Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have already provided in-flight refuelling for 18 of the 36 Rafale multirole fighters ordered for the IAF while en route to India from their manufacturing facility in France.
The 18 remaining Rafales, which were ordered in 2016 for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.5 billion), are also likely to be air-refuelled on their way to India in a similar manner, said IAF sources.
The IAF currently operates six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78 tankers that were acquired in 2003–04 but almost all of them are currently out of service as they face maintenance and serviceability issues, as well as a spares shortage.
www.janes.com
The lease of this aircraft, which would be operated by the IAF but maintained by the French Air Force, is likely to be succeeded by the lease of five additional A330 MRTTs to augment the reach and combat capability of IAF fighters, official sources told Janes on 29 April.
The French Air Force would also instruct IAF personnel in operating the tankers.
Senior IAF officers said it was only “natural” for the service to opt for the A330 MRTT as tankers of the type operated by the French Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have already provided in-flight refuelling for 18 of the 36 Rafale multirole fighters ordered for the IAF while en route to India from their manufacturing facility in France.
The 18 remaining Rafales, which were ordered in 2016 for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.5 billion), are also likely to be air-refuelled on their way to India in a similar manner, said IAF sources.
The IAF currently operates six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78 tankers that were acquired in 2003–04 but almost all of them are currently out of service as they face maintenance and serviceability issues, as well as a spares shortage.
India in advanced negotiations to lease an A330 MRTT from France
India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in advanced negotiations with the French government to lease one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the...
www.janes.com
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Why lease,why not buy?India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in advanced negotiations with the French government to lease one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for training purposes.
The lease of this aircraft, which would be operated by the IAF but maintained by the French Air Force, is likely to be succeeded by the lease of five additional A330 MRTTs to augment the reach and combat capability of IAF fighters, official sources told Janes on 29 April.
The French Air Force would also instruct IAF personnel in operating the tankers.
Senior IAF officers said it was only “natural” for the service to opt for the A330 MRTT as tankers of the type operated by the French Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence have already provided in-flight refuelling for 18 of the 36 Rafale multirole fighters ordered for the IAF while en route to India from their manufacturing facility in France.
The 18 remaining Rafales, which were ordered in 2016 for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.5 billion), are also likely to be air-refuelled on their way to India in a similar manner, said IAF sources.
The IAF currently operates six Russian-made Ilyushin Il-78 tankers that were acquired in 2003–04 but almost all of them are currently out of service as they face maintenance and serviceability issues, as well as a spares shortage.
India in advanced negotiations to lease an A330 MRTT from France
India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in advanced negotiations with the French government to lease one Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the...
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If "I understood" correctly what's proposed,France would buy and transform 6 A330 to the MRTT configuration (given the crisis the aviation sector is going through,it won't be hard to buy A330s at a bargain price) then lease them on a long term to India.
I think this is a win-win for everyone. We indirectly help Airbus and we help reinforce the air refuelling and transport capabilities of an ally. In fact it would probably cost more India on the long term but it allows India not to directly spend billions of € when it has already so much urgent programs to fund and given the budgetary restrictions coming because of the coronavirus crisis.
@Vergennes, bonjour
Any idea about the French help in the Nuclear reactor for submarines heard that Indian new nuclear attack submarine were more or less based on Barracuda class
Any idea about the French help in the Nuclear reactor for submarines heard that Indian new nuclear attack submarine were more or less based on Barracuda class
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India-France Naval Exercise: Growing Strategic Synergy
France has emerged as one of India’s closest strategic partners and the relationship is likely to bloom further in the coming years.
thediplomat.com
India-France Naval Exercise: Growing Strategic Synergy
France has emerged as one of India’s closest strategic partners and the relationship is likely to bloom further in the coming years.
Two weeks ago, the Indian and French navies conducted a three-day (April 25-27) bilateral naval exercise. The exercise was part of the annual series of bilateral exercises between the Indian and French militaries that have the stated goal of upholding the rules-based order and promoting a stable maritime security order in the Indo-Pacific. Varuna 2021 was the 19th edition of this series of exercises. France has remained one of India’s strongest strategic partners and given the growing security challenges India faces in its immediate neighborhood and in the Indo-Pacific, it is likely that there will be further enhancement of this partnership.
An Indian Ministry of Defense statement on the Varuna 2021 exercises stated that “the three-day Varuna [exercises] will see high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defense and anti-submarines exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations including cross deck helicopter landings, tactical maneuvers, surface and anti-air weapon firings, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations.” The exercise comes against the backdrop of the Quad plus France naval exercise that took place in the Bay of Bengal earlier in April. Along with the Quad countries, France remains a key Indo-Pacific power with an important presence and influence in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad plus France exercise was a significant opportunity to demonstrate the naval strength that these five key naval powers bring to the maritime spaces in the Indo-Pacific. Commenting on the Quad plus exercise, Rear Admiral Jean-Mathieu Rey, the joint commander of French armed forces in the Asia-Pacific, said that “Such exercises are excellent opportunities for our respective units to train together, with the intention to heighten the level of our bilateral and multilateral partnerships and to demonstrate our ability to operate together in the area.”
France’s military presence in the Indian Ocean is significant, with facilities in the island of La Réunion, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. India and France signed a military logistics agreement in 2018, which gives reciprocal access to each other’s military facilities. With that agreement in hand, India can be expected to widen its strategic outreach in the Indian Ocean. This will enhance India’s overall naval capacity, especially in the western Indian Ocean.
A French Embassy statement said “The ‘Varuna’ joint exercise is part of the French carrier strike group’s ‘CLEMENCEAU 21’ deployment, which the French Navy is conducting from February to June 2021 in the eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf and the Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea). Its goal is to contribute to the stabilization of these strategic zones and strengthening cooperation with the navies of partner countries, in particular India for the Indian Ocean component.”
For the Varuna 2021 exercises, the Indian side was represented by the guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata, guided missile frigates INS Tarkash and INS Talwar, Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak, a Kalvari class submarine (an Indian-built version of the French Scorpene class submarine) and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The French force included the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle (carrying various types of aircraft including Rafale-M fighters and E2C Hawkeye for surveillance), Horizon-class air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul, Aquitaine-class multi-missions frigate FNS Provence and the command and supply ship Var.
Following the exercise, the French ambassador to India stated in a tweet that “During three days of intensive drills, 8 Flag of France and Flag of India warships & their air wings demonstrated high level of interoperability in all aspects of naval warfare: anti-surface, anti-submarine, air defense.” The French Embassy in a statement on the exercise noted that “this exercise underscores the shared interests and commitment of both nations in promoting maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. It bears testimony to the vitality of the strategic partnership between France and India, which continued being strengthened despite the pandemic.”
The Indian Navy was also upbeat about the exercise, with the navy spokesperson praising in a tweet the growing “scope, complexity of ops & level of participation.” The Indian Ministry of Defense stated that the “INS Tarkash will continue to exercise with the French Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG)” for a few more days. Clearly, this is a demonstration of the comfort level between the Indian and French militaries as well as the increasing strategic synergy between the two countries.
This comfort level has been growing. It was evident when the India and France for the first time undertook joint patrols from Reunion Island in March 2020, France’s naval base in the Indian Ocean. Following that exercise, the commander of the Indian Navy P-8I, which was part of the joint patrols, reportedly stated that these operations “make it possible to maintain the security of international maritime routes for trade and communications.” The kind of patrols India undertook with France is significant because previously India typically did Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT) only with its neighbors, countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia. The U.S. had earlier pitched for such an exercise with India, but Delhi is reported to have turned down the request.
France has emerged as one of India’s closest strategic partners and this relationship is likely to bloom in different formats in the coming years. While the bilateral engagement will remain a key pillar, involving Paris in many trilateral and minilateral platforms in the Indo-Pacific will strengthen India’s maneuverability as India aligns closely with the U.S. and other Western powers. France has expressed its keenness to join the India-Australia bilateral exercise, AUSINDEX. Reportedly, talks are on regarding the modalities of such engagement.
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