India-France Defence Exercises and Cooperation
India’s defence cooperation with France is nothing novel, as it can be traced back to the cold war era when defence ties were domineered by armament sale. During that time, even though India heavily relied on the Soviet Union for its defence requirements, New Delhi found Paris to be a reliable partner, which enabled deepening of ties in the post-cold war phase. Evident by the upliftment of the relationship to strategic partnership, whereby security cooperation was expanded beyond the sale of arms, which was characteristic of the relationship during the 20th century. Moreover, the aim here is to analyze how the partnership has evolved over time and where do they stand now.
Defence ties during the Cold War:
The two nations cooperated on defence when India bought mountain kits for the Kashmir troops in 1949 during the reign of Jawaharlal Nehru. The defence cooperation was dominated by arms sales as 71 ‘MD-450 Ouragan aircraft’ were bought in 1953, 110 Mystère-4A fighter aircraft and 164 AMX-13/ Model-51 light tanks in 1956. 12 Alizé anti-submarine aircraft in 1959 and 3 SA-316B Alouette 3 light helicopters in 1961.
In the 1960s, 3 Alizé aircrafts, 50 As-30 air to surface missiles, 2000 ENTAC and 4000 SS-11/ AS-11 anti-tank missiles were bought, which amounted to an average of $13 million per year, which was miniscule compared to Indo-British average of $97 million per year. During the 1960s, France was not a very important player as a weapons exporter as India relied on the UK and Soviet Union for its defence requirements.
The 1970s, in terms of arms sales, was not good for French defence manufacturers given that India relied on the Soviet Union for its equipment. However, by the end of the decade, New Delhi decided to diversify suppliers exemplified by the procurement of 1000 R-550 Magic-1 air to air missile, 40 PA-6 diesel engines for patrol vessels in 1979, 1000 MILAN anti-tank missiles in 1981 from France.
In early 1982 40 Mirage 2000 fighter jets were bought by India and delivered in 1985-1986. Overall, the 1980s was a period of boosting Indo-French armament sales as it averaged about $26 million between 1982 and 1986 and between 1987 and 1991, the average sale per year was $82.8 million. The 1980s saw France become the most important arms supplier after the Soviet Union. Although French sales were dwarfed by that of the USSR, it was able to ameliorate its standing as a weapons supplier to India.
On the whole, India and France defence ties were limited to the sale of arms rather than broad security issues during the cold war. However, French status as a supplier improved at the conclusion of the cold war than what it was at the inception.
Defence Exercises under Strategic Partnership:
India’s strategic partnership with France was forged at the end of the 20th century when French President Jacques Chirac visited New Delhi in January 1998. He elucidated the desire to establish a strategic group ‘to facilitate a better understanding of defence doctrines and an increased military cooperation’. Thus, the defence cooperation between the two democracies was strengthened with the new Indo-French dialogue, they were no longer limited to arms sales.
The new-found thinking between the two sides was evident in France’s response to India’s nuclear test as it did not follow US strategy of ‘cap, roll back and eliminate’ and instead wanted to better understand Indian strategic thinking and security perceptions. The support provided to India by France when the western world was trying to pressurize India to give up its nuclear ambitions, was the turning point in India-France relations.
France’s preference for a multipolar world and due to its extensive overseas territory in the Indian and Pacific Ocean, its interest always lied in the Indo-Pacific and therefore, it chose to get closer to India which is manifested by closer ties between Paris and New Delhi.
Maritime security was a key area of convergence between the French Navy and the Indian Navy which enabled the institutionalization of the ‘VARUNA’ naval exercise in 2001 with the aim of enhancing interoperability and it has been held annually since then. This year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries conducted the 19th edition in the Arabian sea from 25th to 27th April 2021.
The French navy’s aircraft carrier Charles De Gauelle, Provence FREMM frigate, Chevalier Paul frigate participated alongside India’s INS Kolkata, INS Tarkash, INS Talwar, INS Deepak, Kalvari class submarine and P8I maritime patrol aircraft this year. Furthermore, Indian frigate INS Tarkash also continued exercises with French navy’s Carrier Strike Group for 3 more days from 28th April to 1st May 2021.
Exercises between the Air Force of the two countries began a bit later in 2004 when the Indian and French Air Force conducted their first ever bilateral exercise at Hindon Air Force station on 7th November 2004. This year, the two air squadrons conducted the 6th edition of the exercise called ‘Ex Desert Knight-21’ at Jodhpur Air Force Station from 20th to 24th January 2021. Herein French Rafale, Airbus A-330 multi-role tanker transport, A-400M tactile transport aircraft engaged with the Indian counterpart equipped with Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 flight refueling aircraft, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Cooperation between the armies came much later in 2011 when the Indian and French army kickstarted their introductory exercise called ‘SHAKTI-2011’ where 60 troops from France’s 13 mountain battalion participated alongside 2 Bihar regiments of India. The exercise took place for 15 days where the aim was to enhance combat skills for counter-terrorism operations as well as exchange knowledge.
It has been held biennially since 2011 and the latest exercise called ‘SHAKTI-2019’ took place from 30th October to 13th November 2019, conducted at foreign training node at the Mahajan field firing ranges in Rajasthan. Sikh regiment of the Sapta Shakti command represented India and troops of the 21st marine infantry regiment represented France. The purpose was to enhance counter-terrorism skills through learning of best practices.
Defence Cooperation:
The defence cooperation between the two sides has not only expanded in the form of exercises being conducted by the armed forces but also in terms of larger defence contracts. For instance, New Delhi and Paris through a technology transfer agreement are jointly developing six Scorpene class submarines in India, which began in 2005 and the contract is worth $4.16 billion.
In the last 5 years, India’s most important purchase with regards to the modernization of the Air Force was the procurement of 36 Rafael Jets for $9.4 billion in 2016. This indicates that unlike the 20th century, when France’s engagement was limited to the export of weapons to New Delhi, it is now working jointly to develop weapons in India.
The two navies share warm ties discernable from the fact that a key agreement was signed by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron permitting the usage of each other’s naval bases in March 2018. During the meeting between the heads of the two governments, another agreement was inked for the protection of classified information which suggests high levels of trust. Furthermore, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived in India on 14 April 2021 for a three-day visit where he met his Indian counterpart, S Jaishanker and the two talked extensively on working together to address challenges in the maritime domain and recognized the need to collaborate in defence and security realm.
Final Viewpoint:
India-France ties have always been overshadowed and underrated, for instance during the cold war, India’s ties with the Soviet Union eclipsed relations with Paris. Similarly, in the present era, India’s closer relations with United States overshadows the close cooperation between the two nations. The ameliorated relations in the current era reflects growing synergy with regards to defence cooperation. However, we need to keep in mind that the closer ties observed today was cemented by relations during the cold war when Paris supplied India its much-needed armory and enables New Delhi to reduce the over-dependence on USSR.
The strategic partnership signaled the desire in France to get closer to India, and it is reflected in the level of closer security ties whether in the form of defence exercises by the three-armed forces, or in the form of defence agreements and arm sales. Based on the evidence, strategic partnership has been adequately backed by institutionalization at the defence level and the growing synergy would permit cooperation in Indo-Pacific in the coming years.
End Notes
1)https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/55131/IPCS-ResearchPaper7-Constance.pdf
2)https://www.orfonline.org/research/how-delhi-and-paris-became-friends-54811/
3)https://southasianvoices.org/india-and-france-from-strategic-partners-to-a-strategic-alliance/
4)https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/28/world/french-sign-an-accord-with-india-to-fuel-us-built-nuclear-plant.html
5)https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/5139/Treaty+of
6)https://www.orfonline.org/research/why-france-is-a-reliable-strategic-partner-for-india-60480/
7)https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/varuna-15-indo-french-naval-exercise
8)https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/exercise-varuna-2021#:~:text=The%2019th%20edition%20of%20the,25th%20to%2027th%20April%202021.&text=VARUNA%2D21%20highlights%20growing%20bonhomie,between%20the%20two%20friendly%20navies.
9)https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/04/french-indian-naval-exercise-varuna-2021-concludes/
10)https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/Special/ASEX/PDeFrance/
11)https://in.ambafrance.org/French-and-India-Air-Forces-hold-joint-exercises-in-Jodphur#:~:text=Jodhpur%2C%2020%2D24%20January%202021&text=The%20joint%20exercise%20took%20place,to%20operate%20together%20more%20effectively.
12)https://www.livemint.com/news/india/iaf-welcomes-french-air-and-space-force-teams-up-for-air-exercise-11611038737951.html
13)https://www.army-technology.com/news/newsindia-france-conduct-exercise-shakti-2011/
14)https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/armies-of-india-france-to-take-part-in-bilateral-drill-in-rajasthan/articleshow/71794968.cms?from=mdr
15)https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/india-france-to-conduct-5-day-joint-air-exercise/2115517#:~:text=The%20Defense%20Ministry%20said%20that,%2Dde%2DMarsan%2C%20France.
16) https://nation.com.pk/01-Feb-2021/france-arming-india-to-teeth
17)https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-france-sign-strategic-pact-on-use-of-each-others-military-bases/articleshow/63248889.cms
18)https://www.dw.com/en/india-fighter-jet-deal/a-54371826#:~:text=India%20has%20bought%20a%20total,to%20be%20worth%20%249.4%20billion.
19)https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/france-offers-to-shift-panther-chopper-assembly-line-to-india-rafale-too-101610181121676.html
20)https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-navys-third-scorpene-class-submarine-commissioned/articleshow/81432876.cms?from=mdr#:~:text=Six%20Scorpene%20class%20submarines%20are,be%20commissioned%20into%20the%20Navy.
21)https://theprint.in/diplomacy/late-french-president-jacques-chirac-saw-india-as-a-power-not-a-land-of-snake-charmers/297734/
22)https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-france-explore-ways-to-boost-cooperation-in-indo-pacific/articleshow/82052812.cms?from=mdr
Pic Courtesy- Rodrigo Kugnharski at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
