Page 11 - The Indian EYE 012023

OPINION JANUARY 20, 2023 | The Indian Eye 11

The cockpit view of Baaz formation comprising one Rafale, 2 Jaaguar, 2 MIG- 29 UPG, 2 Su- The crew of INS Vikramaditya recently celebrated the 75th Independence Day at Naval Station
30 MI ac in seven ac ‘Arrowhead’ formation (ANI) in Karwar (ANI)

French Arms Exports to The Strengthened India–US (Boeing CH-47F I Chinook; 15 induct- Going Forward
India Defense Relationship ed), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) If India opts for the Rafale Ma-
maritime patrol and reconnaissance
The Rafale is the latest in a Even as India’s arms imports aircraft (Boeing P8-I; 11 inducted; 1 rine, as noted in this 9 December
series of fighter aircraft of French from France registered a massive more ordered), and attack helicopters 2022 report, it will highlight the con-
tinued lack of success of US fighter
origin that have been operated by jump in 2010–20, and irrespective of (Boeing AH-64E Apache; 22 inducted aircraft manufacturers to become
the IAF. French fighter aircraft in India’s interim naval fighter choice, in IAF; six more ordered for Indian Army a part of India’s inventory, despite
India’s inventory date back to 1953, the India–US defense and strategic in 2020), ASW helicopters (Lockheed long-standing and robust efforts. It
when the IAF acquired the Oura- partnership has been significantly Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R; 24 helicop- will also signify an increasing share of
gans (Toofani), becoming Dassault strengthened in recent times. India ters worth US$ 2.6 bn to be induct- European manufacturers in the Indi-
Aviation’s first export customer. was designated as a Major Defense ed by 2025), heavy transport aircraft an military aerospace market. This
Subsequently, the IAF also pro- Partner in 2016. While US Foreign (Boeing C-17A Globemaster III; 11
cured the Jaguars (beginning from Military Sales (FMS) to India from inducted) and UAVs (General Atom- is in the light of the 2016 Rs 60,000
crore Rafale deal and the 2022 Rs
1978) and the Mirage 2000, from 1950 to 2021 amounted to US$ 13.2 ics MQ 9 Sea Guardian; two leased). 22,000 crore deal for 56 C-295 trans-
1982 onwards. India currently has billion, US$ 4.7 billion (or 28 per India–US joint ventures like port aircraft from Airbus, 40 of which
more than 100 Jaguars and more cent) were during the period 2017– the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited will be manufactured at Vadodara
than 50 Mirage 2000s (single and 21. The authorized value of US de- (TBAL), established in 2016, has by Tata Advanced Defense Systems
dual-seat versions). fense articles and services through supplied over 150 Apache fuselages Limited and Airbus Defense and
The Mirages were upgraded Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) to to Boeing’s global clientele. At the
with new radars, mission computers India has been over US$ 18 billion in India–US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue Space. While the C-295 is a replace-
ment for the IAF’s HS-748 transport
and electronic warfare (EW) suites the period 2010–21. held in April 2022, both sides also planes, it is also being seen as a possi-
(from Thales) in 2011. Some of the key equipment that pledged to ‘promote the means to ble replacement for the 100-odd AN-
Prior to the 2016 Rafale G2G have been procured include transport encourage reciprocal participation of
deal, the 2005 Scorpene deal for six aircrafts (Lockheed Martin C-130J; 12 Indian and US vendors in each oth- 32s in the IAF fleet.
Even as the robust India–US
submarines was another major ac- inducted), multi-mission helicopters er’s defense supply chains’. defense and military partnership can
quisition from France. The first sub- be expected to absorb the near-term
marine, INS Kalvari was launched setback that could possibly flow out
in 2015 and commissioned in 2017 of India’s interim choice for naval
while the sixth INS Vagsheer, was fighter aircraft, US aircraft engine
launched in 2022. manufacturers like GE will continue
The Scorpene and the Rafale
deals accounted for India being the to be an integral part of indigenous
fighter aircraft programmes like the
second biggest purchaser of French LCA Mk 1 and Mk 2A.
arms during 2010–20, after Saudi
Arabia. Dr S. Samuel C. Rajiv is Associate Fellow
While Saudi Arabia imported at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for
over Euros 9 billion from France, Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
India imported arms worth Euros Views expressed are of the author and
7.2 billion.4 Egypt, Qatar and the do not necessarily reflect the views of
United Arab Emirates, along with the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
Saudi Arabia and India, made up Government of India.
the top five importers of French
arms during 2010–20. Aircraft This article first appeared in the
were the major category of French Comments section of the website (www.
arms exports during 2010–20, ac- idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
counting for a quarter of all its A file photo of LCA Tejas (ANI) for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
arms exports. Delhi on January 5, 2022

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