Prime Minister Modi and his guest French President Macron wound up their discussions in Mumbai on Tuesday, elevating their ties to a Global Special Strategic Partnership. They have also agreed on an annual foreign ministers dialogue to take forward the partnership.
“The world is going through a period of uncertainty,” Modi noted, “In such an environment the India-France partnership is a force for global stability. We are combining France’s expertise and India’s scale.”
“This partnership is not just strategic. In today’s turbulent era it is a partnership of global stability and progress,” he said.
The two leaders witnessing the signing of two key agreements: the first was the renewal of the India–France Defence Cooperation Agreement for another decade. The renewal reiterates defence and security as a central pillar of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
This in turn is expected to expand high-level military exchanges, operational coordination, reciprocal deployment of officers, and collaboration across the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The other deal was an MoU to set up a joint venture bringing together India’s state-owned Bharat Electronics and French firm Safran Electronics to make the Hammer precision guided missile in India. It’s a 50:50 JV.The HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is an air-to-ground weapon system, that will be fitted on the Rafale. It has a strike range of about 60-km and can hit with precision underground or heavily fortified bunkers. It has all weather capability.
Although the Rafale jet deal is yet to be signed, Macron exuded confidence, saying that “From Rafale jets to submarines, we are expanding defence cooperation. India and France will continue to cooperate to combat terrorism.”
The missile is designed for high-precision strikes, including in mountainous terrain and against fortified bunkers.
The leaders also witnessed the inauguration of the H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka.
The two countries have signalled a critical shift toward deeper co-development, co-production and long-term strategic alignment in defence and security.
