France could buy India's Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system

New Delhi: Defence partnership and defence industry collaboration, including proposed purchase of India's Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher by France, is understood to have figured at the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron at the port city of Marseilles.

Defence, security and sovereignty issues were at the core of the discussions between the two leaders, a source said. Other issues that figured in the dialogue included expanding French presence in the Indian Ocean Region and economic partnership besides strengthening counter-terror cooperation, the source hinted.

It is understood that France is in talks with India to purchase Pinaka, which will be a landmark export order for the Indian defence industry. Pinaka was demonstrated to a French delegation in India late last year.


India will procure Rafale fighter jets for its aircraft carrier and possibly three more Scorpene-class conventional submarines from France.

India and France are also in advanced talks for developing a fighter jet engine. India and France have a strong and robust defence partnership with an increasing 'Atmanirbharata' element in it.

The defence cooperation between the two sides is reviewed under Annual Defence Dialogue (defence minister level) and High Committee on Defence Cooperation (secretary level). An office of DRDO has also been opened in the Indian Embassy in 2023 for strengthening the technology cooperation between India and France.