Defence cooperation will be high on Modi’s agenda

March 28, 2015 03:00 am | Updated 03:00 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Defence cooperation, particularly under the ‘Make in India” initiative, will be high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda in France and Germany during his European sojourn beginning on April 9.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is scheduled to meet on Saturday ahead of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit to Japan starting on Sunday. Several issues connected with the two visits are on the agenda, along with the upgrade of Russian-built Kamov helicopters of the Navy.

While the focus in France will largely be on the $20-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter aircraft under the multi-role combat aircraft contest, which both sides have been negotiating since 2012, a few other big-ticket deals too are on the table.

France will press for the conclusion of the $6-billion ‘Maitri’ project for co-development and production of short-range surface-to-air missiles. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a memorandum of understanding with MBDA of France in 2013, but no progress had been made since.

Several Defence Ministry officials feel that this deal is unnecessary as it directly competes with the DRDO’s Akash system. “The Maitri project can go on, but we want the missiles, and Akash is serving that purpose,” a senior Defence Ministry official said earlier.

The other issue pertains to a single-vendor situation involving Airbus in two projects. One is the Avro aircraft replacement programme and the second is the requirement for aircraft for the indigenous Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) programme under development by the DRDO.

In addition, France is keen on expanding defence engagement by taking up joint projects under the “Make in India” initiative.

In Berlin, the focus will be on how Germany can play a bigger role in the “Make in India” initiative in general and defence in particular, as German officials have emphasised on several occasions.

Mr. Parrikar’s Japanese trip is his first official foreign tour. India and Japan are negotiating the purchase of ShinMaywa-built US-2 amphibious aircraft. India recently invited Japan to participate in the P-75I contract for diesel-electric submarines.

“The agenda is not final,” Japanese Embassy officials said but indicated that all issues would be discussed.

The Hindu had earlier reported that Japanese concerns on civil nuclear cooperation with the U.S. will figure during Mr. Parrikar’s visit.

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