Gwalior, Feb. 13: India and France are close to finalising a $2 billion deal for the manufacture of six Scorpene submarines.
When asked about the Scorpene deal at a joint press conference organised here, French ambassador Dominique Girard said: "We are very much in the finalising stage and could expect it soon." Under the contract, India will build these submarines at the Mazgaon docks at Goa. The Cabinet Committee on Security, however, is yet to clear the deal.
Mr Girard said France was keen for "long-term cooperation, joint production and research for building futuristic armament systems with India."
This had received a fillip after the recent visit of the French Prime Minister where aeronautics had been identified as an important sector for cooperation. Regarding the offer of 130 upgraded Mirage 2000-V fighters, the French ambassador said initial talks had been held on the matter.
The Dassault Company has offered to upgrade 130 Mirage 2000-Vs on a technology transfer basis in a deal estimated to be worth $4 billion. French Air Chief Gen. Richard Wolsztynski, who also addressed the conference, said a nation’s air defence capacity must cover the "whole spectrum" post-September 11. There are many variables involved in such an attack and in times of a "permanent low level crisis" countries have to strengthen aspects such as intelligence gathering, he said. Each country has its security imperatives and has to augment its capacity in meeting threats. In this regard, the air services in every country play a crucial and fundamental role, said Gen. Wolsztynski.
Asked whether Indo-French exercises would be a regular feature, Gen. Wolsztynski said that the exercise had to be evaluated first, after which the feasibility of another exercise could be considered. "I hope that the cooperation would continue and there would be other opportunities, but it is a bit early."
Bureau Report
