With a history spanning four decades, France has become India’s second-largest arms supplier, particularly in the domain of fighter jets (Tata Group and Airbus from France have joined forces).
On Friday, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra announced that Tata Group and Airbus from France have entered into an agreement (Tata Group and Airbus from France have joined forces) for the joint manufacturing of civilian helicopters. The signing of this agreement took place as part of the ongoing state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India.
Tata Group and Airbus have established a collaborative (Tata Group and Airbus from France have joined forces) effort in the production of the C-295 transport aircraft in the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat. According to statements from India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra during a media briefing on Friday, an industrial partnership has been formalized between Tata and Airbus helicopters.
This partnership focuses on the production of H125 helicopters and places a significant emphasis on incorporating indigenous and localized components.
In an official statement released on Friday, Airbus announced the initiation of a final assembly line (FAL) for helicopters. The machines manufactured on this line are slated to be exported to neighboring countries of India.
Airbus specified that the setup of the FAL will take approximately 24 months, with deliveries projected to commence in 2026. The location of this facility is expected to be determined collaboratively by Tata and Airbus (Tata Group and Airbus from France have joined forces).
Tata Group has not yet provided an immediate response to inquiries seeking comment on this development.
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to India, discussions extended to further cooperation in the defense sector. Officials disclosed that conversations included the prospect of French engine manufacturer Safran assisting in the production of fighter jet engines within India.
Notably, France currently serves as India’s second-largest arms supplier, with India relying on French fighter jets for the past four decades (Tata Group and Airbus from France have joined forces). India’s Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, expressed Safran’s full willingness to engage in this venture with a complete transfer of technology, encompassing design, development, certification, and production. Discussions on this matter are anticipated to continue.
In addition to defense collaboration, Macron’s visit saw France addressing concerns about a notice served by the Indian government to French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, based in New Delhi. The notice raised the possibility of the cancellation of her visa. Kwatra stated that both before and during Macron’s visit, France highlighted this issue.
The Indian government characterized Dougnac’s work as “malicious” and suggested it might “provoke disorder and disturb peace,” as reported by local media. Dougnac, in response, denied all allegations in a statement released on Wednesday.
The complexity of these developments underscores the evolving nature of India-France collaborations, spanning aviation, defense, and diplomatic engagements.
