France may pip US in race for India missile deal

NEW DELHI: France may pip the United States by entering into joint production and co-development of short range air defence missiles with India through transfer of know-how and technology.

While the proposal to jointly develop the system was initiated during the UPA regime, it did not see light of the day. Sensing that the Modi government had made joint production and co-development of defence equipment with foreign partners its mantra, France has tried to seize the opportunity by moving Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on the issue.

ET has learnt that French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian recently wrote to Jaitley to expedite signing of the contract for co-development of SRSAM – surface to air short range systems. “This project would enable India to get in a few years in the area of strategic missiles, the maximum autonomy you have called for,” Le Drain wrote in his letter.

France will be the second country after Russia to co-produce missiles with India if the project fructifies. India and Russia have jointly produced Brahmos missiles which could now be exported to countries including Vietnam, Indonesia and Venezuela. The Indo-French project also has a huge export potential, official sources told ET. It may be recalled that France is one of the key defence suppliers for India.