After the Rafale aircraft, India's eyes on France's Barracuda submarines, what are the implications of the France Defense Minister's visit to India?

After the visit of Russian President Putin to India, the visit of the France Defense Minister to Delhi can prove to be useful in many ways. India and France are increasingly getting closer to the rapidly changing strategic alliance in the world. To give a new dimension to these relations, France Defense Minister Florence Parle is on a visit to India. It is being claimed that the France Defense Minister may propose Barracuda class nuclear submarines under Make in India during his visit to India. Now it depends on India whether it will buy this nuclear submarine of France or will work on some other plan. America and China are also keeping a close eye on this visit of the France Defense Minister. The special thing is that this visit of the France Defense Minister is taking place at a time when Australia has canceled the nuclear submarine agreement with France. In such a situation, France is seeing more potential in India.

Indian Navy will get an invincible edge in the Indian Ocean

1- Given the challenge India is facing in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, this may be the most important offer for India in terms of military equipment. Through these submarines, the Indian Navy can further increase its capability in the Indian Ocean. With this, the challenge from China can also be dealt with. For any country, nuclear submarine technology is considered the crown of its military capability. In such a situation, if France offers to make these submarines in India under technology transfer, then it will not be easy for India to turn it down.

2- This is the first time a country will offer nuclear-powered submarine technology to India. Prior to this, the then Soviet Union had leased nuclear-powered attack submarines to India on two occasions. India made a secret deal with Russia for the purchase of nuclear submarines. The total cost of the deal was then reported to be $3 billion.

3- Under this, India will get a nuclear submarine from Russia in 2025, which will be known as INS Chakra III. This submarine will also serve in the Indian Navy for the next 10 years like INS Chakra. The submarine that India is going to get is K-322 Kashalot of Akula II class of Russia. It is fitted with an integrated sonar system, which detects the enemy's location from a long distance without any movement. A similar system has been installed in India's INS Arihant.

France ready to provide additional Rafale fighter jets

India is getting offers to buy state-of-the-art weapons from many countries of the world amid the ongoing tension with China and Pakistan. The France Defense Minister has announced that his country is ready to supply additional Rafale fighter jets to India if needed. The France defense minister said the use of the same type of aircraft in the air forces of two strategic partners shows the real asset and strength of their relationship. Significantly, France has so far supplied 33 Rafale fighter jets to India in spite of the Corona epidemic. India had signed a deal with France in September 2016 for 36 Rafale fighter jets for about Rs 59 thousand crore.

Aakash gave India a chance

In fact, this is a better opportunity for India to acquire its naval nuclear technology after the existence of the US-UK and Australia Organization of Assessment (AUKUS). After the cancellation of the nuclear submarine deal with Australia, France is also looking for a new customer. A few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to France President Emmanuel Macron. France is also a strategic partner country of India. India has also bought Scorpene class submarines from France. Apart from this, Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft also remain in France.

Nuclear submarine INS Arihant with Indian Navy

At present, only one ballistic missile nuclear submarine INS Arihant is deployed in the Indian Navy. This submarine, built for a special mission, may not be enough to guard India's 7516 km long maritime border. This is the reason why India is in talks with Russia these days to lease two submarines of the Chakra series. During the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India, there was talk that a submarine deal could also be signed between the two countries.