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Fernandes may sign several defence deals during French trip

Union Defence Minister George Fernandes left New Delhi today on a four-day official visit to France that entails wideranging talks on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, including acquisitions for the Indian Air Force.

While the official line in New Delhi was that the ministerial visit was not meant for signing contracts, a UNI report from Paris said Fernandes' discussions would focus around buying 10 more Mirage-2000 warplanes for the Indian Air Force, engines for advanced light helicopters, electronic components for the MiG-21 fleet and advanced jet trainers.

The high-level five-member defence delegation accompanying Fernandes to the French capital includes the vice-chiefs of the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

The defence minister's visit to France is also significant in the sense that it is the first foreign visit being undertaken by him after assuming charge of the ministry of defence in March last year.

France is keen to sell its Alpha Jet AJTs to India and the French side is bound to press for it during the discussions with Fernandes. Alpha Jet figures among the AJTs shortlisted for induction into the IAF. The other shortlisted AJT is the British Hawk. The Russian AJT MiG-AT is also understood to be in the reckoning.

An AJT is required for advanced training of fighter pilots.

French companies are already supplying navigation aids and liquid crystal display for the IAF's Su-30 warplane, the report from Paris said.

France has also shown interest in assisting India's Advanced Light Helicopter programme, which is understood to have been affected by the US sanctions in the wake of the Pokhran nuclear tests by India.

Fernandes will also be visiting the Eurocopter industry and the visit assumes significance in the wake of the French offer to supply engines for India's ALH.

''The Indian defence sector is looking at France with a new-found interest and France can supply state-of-the-art technology to India,'' a top French Aerospatiale Industries Association official told UNI in Paris.

During the Aero India 98 held at Bangalore last month the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the French Airbus Industries signed a memorandum of understanding to design and develop the quick-convertible version of the A-320 planes. According to reports, Dassault Aviation had recently offered to sell 10 Mirage-2000 aircraft to India at old prices.

The Cabinet clearance is also understood to have been given for the purchase of 10 Mirage-2000s to form a ''war reserve.''

As far as defence cooperation is concerned, the last major defence deal between India and France was signed in the 1980s , when India purchased some 40 Mirage-2000 warplanes. The Mirage-2000 is among the front line strike aircraft of the IAF.

Further movement on the acquisition of AJTs for the IAF cannot be ruled out as former chief of air staff S K Sareen, who just retired, had said at one of his farewell functions recently said that a decision on the AJT would be taken within a few weeks.

The IAF is understood to be in the immediate need of at least three squadrons of AJTs to meet its requirements for the time being.

Fernandes' visit assumes added significance as it will be the second high-level interaction at the political level between New Delhi and Paris after the Pokhran nuclear explosions by India in May last year.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made a stopover in France in September last year while returning from the US.

Besides bilateral matters, international security concerns and India's emergence as a nuclear weapons state on the world horizon were bound to figure during Fernandes' talks with French leaders including his French counterpart Alain Richard.

France happens to be among the prominent Western countries whose criticism of India's nuclear tests was comparatively mild and Paris also did not snap defence ties with New Delhi to express its resentment at the nuclear tests.

The defence minister's itinerary in France also includes visits to several defence establishments, a ministry of defence spokesman in New Delhi said.

''Apart from discussing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of defence, the visit will also provide an opportunity for exchanging views on key international security concerns,'' the spokesman said.

The two countries have also been holding a dialogue on strategic issues. Fernandes will return home on January 14.

UNI

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