The highlight is defense cooperation.

(Baonghean) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just concluded a two-day visit to France before heading to Germany. Looking back at Mr. Modi's two-day stop in France, it can be seen that India and France have reached many important agreements, especially on defense cooperation when India and France will have a contract to buy new fighter aircraft. Expanding defense cooperation with France - a powerful arms exporter - will help India diversify its defense.

In Paris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a contract worth more than $4 billion. Although the two sides still have some terms to discuss before officially signing the contract, French President Francois Hollande said that French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will come to India soon to complete the agreement. This is considered a breakthrough in the Rafale aircraft purchase deal that the two countries initiated three years ago. Up to now, the negotiation process of the $20 billion contract in 2012 for France to sell 126 Rafale aircraft to India has not been concluded. According to a source from the Indian Ministry of Defense, the main problem is the technology transfer clause for the production of 108 aircraft in India. However, this agreement is different from the previous agreement. It seems that with this contract, India wants to own 36 modern French Rafale fighter jets as soon as possible.

A French Rafale fighter jet. Photo: AFP

In recent years, France has emerged as a reliable supplier of fighter jets and submarines to India. Through cooperation with France, India wants to modernize its national military forces, especially the air force, which currently possesses equipment considered outdated. Currently, India is said to urgently need to replace its fighter jets from 2017 to be able to increase its defense capabilities with neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and China, two countries with which India has territorial disputes.

In fact, the Indian Air Force is currently still mainly equipped with many old types of fighter aircraft such as Mirage 2000, MiG 27, MiG 21... which cause accidents during training and patrolling every year, let alone gaining air superiority in the event of a conflict. Meanwhile, neighboring China has recently continuously developed its new generation of fighter aircraft. On the other hand, according to the US report on the scale of China's military modernization in 2014, the Chinese Air Force currently owns more than 2,800 aircraft including drones, a number that is far superior to the Indian Air Force. In addition, China is also negotiating to buy the new modern Su 35 aircraft from Russia. Not only that, another country with border disputes with India, Pakistan, has a relationship that is considered warm with China, which has made India feel somewhat insecure.

The strategy of accessing French weapons technology, first of all, buying Rafale fighter jets, can be considered a "smart" move by India. If India owns modern weapons from Europe, especially from France, a country with a developed defense industry, this will be different from neighboring countries in the region. The reason is that China and India are both Russian arms buyers, while China is still subject to a European arms embargo that has lasted for more than 20 years. Both India and especially China are unlikely to be sold modern weapons by the US, so turning to European weapons powers like France will give India an advantage. Therefore, although the initial contract to buy 126 Rafale jets has not yet been concluded, India's request to immediately buy 36 Rafale jets from France shows India's strategic calculations. In particular, the 36 Rafale aircraft that India purchased this time is a separate contract, not a reduction in the number of aircraft or the cancellation of the 2012 contract. It is clear that India is determined to "urgently" modernize its air force.

Nguyen Cao Bien