After India and France praised the accomplishment of the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 – Kalvari), which is a model of “Make in India” and the exchange of naval expertise between enterprises in the two countries, Naval Group released a statement.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the building of three more submarines under the P75 programme has been signed by Mazgon Dockyard Ltd. and Naval Group.

In a news statement, Naval Group congratulated the French and Indian governments for their announcements regarding the partnership’s expansion and their intention to look into additional ambitious projects to improve the performance of the Indian fleet.

The decision, according to a French military company, demonstrates the Indian Navy’s confidence in the established industrial collaboration and confirms the success of the technology transfer accomplished under the P27 agreement.

“Naval Group would like to express its gratitude to the Indian and French governments for their announcements regarding the expansion of their partnership and the intention to investigate further ambitious projects to improve the performance of the Indian fleet. In a news release, Naval Group stated that Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) “remains our natural partner.”

“This decision is a testimony of the Indian Navy’s trust in the industrial cooperation we have established,” it continued, “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.”

The P75 programme and other initiatives created by Naval Group and its Indian industrial partners to offer the Indian Navy with cutting-edge naval defence technologies were emphasised as remaining important to India’s ‘Make In India’ policy, according to the press release.

As stated in the press release by Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, “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.”

In addition, Pommellet said that “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.”

Together with French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a document titled “Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards A Century of India-France Relations” while in France. According to a joint statement, “India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance.”

The contract between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine was highlighted as an example of the French commitment to the “Make-in-India” movement by PM Modi and French President Macron.

The deal being finalised between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine is listed as another example of this defence industrial relationship that is “rooted in mutual trust” in the joint statement. This reflects the French government’s dedication to encouraging technology transfer and Make in India.