Within a month of India short-listing Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon for the $10.4 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF), French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet came on a two-day visit to India pitching for the French Rafale. Longuet said that the Rafale has a unique distinction. “We have one single speaking partner (Dassault) instead of four partners (as with Eurofighter),” he said.

Speaking to the media, the Minister said that buying French military equipment was attractive as it is accompanied by transfer of technology. “The French Government gives buyers of military hardware the commitment that equipment and spares will always be available and that it will provide upgrades as technology evolves,” he said.

India expressed concern to the Minister over the sale of French’ military hardware to Pakistan in the name of fighting terror. Later addressing the press, Longuet accepted that the issue was raised during the meeting with his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony. He said that his country had sought clarifications from Islamabad.

Stressing on the growing Indo-French strategic relationship, Longuet said that France views India as a stabilising force in a volatile region and fully supports India’s bid for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.

Responding to a question on the nature of France-Pakistan relations after the killing of Osama bin Laden, the French Minister said terrorism could not be the weapon of anyone or any government and Paris was awaiting the outcome of the dialogue between Washington and Islamabad.

With regard to the delays in construction of six French Scorpene submarines in Mazagon Docks, the Minister said that the programme was on course and the initial delay was because the dockyard had to be modernised to build the submarines. The first submarine is expected in 2015.

Besides MMRCA, France is also awaiting the decision by the Indian Government to clear the $2.1 billion Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft upgradation programme.

Defence ties between India and France have drawn closer in the past few years. Stressing on this, Longuet said that while engagement between the defence industries of both countries is decades old, the nature of ties with the military is growing. He announced that soon the armies of both countries would undertake a joint exercise, namely Exercise Shakti, similar to the bilateral Garuda Exercise between the two air forces and Varuna Exercise between the two navies.

Longuet’s visit is being seen as yet another important initiative in the Indo-French strategic partnership, after the visit of French President Nicholas Sarkozy in December 2010.