The French defense firm Naval Group has welcomed the declaration by India and France regarding the expansion of their relationship with the goal of exploring submarine projects.
The Naval Group announcement comes after India and France celebrated the success of the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 – Kalvari), which is a model of ‘Make in India’ and the sharing of naval experience between the two countries. Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and Naval Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the building of three more submarines under the P75 program.
Naval Group in its press release thanked the Indian and French authorities for the announcement regarding the extension of the partnership and the objective to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian fleet and its performance.
French defence firm noted that the decision showcases the Indian Navy’s trust in the industrial cooperation that has been established and reaffirmed the success of the transfer of technology achieved under the P27 agreement.
“Naval Group would like to thank the Indian and French authorities for the announcement regarding the extension of the Indo-French partnership and the objective to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian fleet and its performance. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) remains our natural partner,” Naval Group said in the press release.
It further said, “This decision is a testimony of the Indian Navy’s trust in the industrial cooperation we have established, and reaffirms the success of the transfer of technology achieved under the P75 programme for six submarines, which were built entirely in India by MOL.”
It stressed that India’s ‘Make In India’ policy has remained at the heart of the P75 programme and other activities that have been developed by Naval Group and its Indian industrial partners to provide the Indian Navy with modern naval defence technologies, according to the press release.
Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, in the press release, said, “We welcome the declarations made during the Indian Prime Minister’s historic participation to the French National Day, to continue and further strengthen our 15-year submarine building cooperation, which is a major element of the Indo-French strategic partnership developed over the past decades.”
Pommellet further stated, “Naval Group and its partners will be fully mobilised to meet the expectations of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the Indian industry to fulfil the needs of the Indian Navy.” During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, he and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the ‘Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards a Century of India-France Relations’ declaration. According to the joint statement, “India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance.”