India and France will jointly produce the world’s highest-flying Airbus H-125 helicopters and Hammer missiles. The two countries will appoint several military officers from each other’s armies to ensure coordination and integration in defence matters. In total, Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron signed 21 agreements between India and France for mutual cooperation in the fields of defence, key minerals, advanced technologies and health .Defence ties between India and France are reaching ‘Everest’ levels.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron inaugurated the Tata Airbus unit in Vemagal, Karnataka, where the two countries jointly manufactured Airbus H-125 helicopters and Hammer missiles that can reach the height of Everest. They also signed 21 agreements for cooperation in the fields of defense, minerals, high-tech and health, under the ‘India-France Creative Year-2026’ for sharing technologies and innovations.
Prime Minister Modi, Macron, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and French defense officials met at the Maharashtra Lok Bhavan in Mumbai and discussed bilateral issues. On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi and Macron virtually inaugurated the joint Tata-Airbus ‘H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Unit’ being set up in Vemagal, Karnataka.
Macron is visiting India for the fourth time after being elected as the President of France. This time, he arrived in Mumbai early on Tuesday for a 3-day visit. He jogged along the Marine Drive area on the coast. Later, along with his wife Mani Brigitte, he paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the memorial near the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Later, he met Prime Minister Modi.
Macron will participate in the AI Impact Conference in Delhi. According to those agreements, the defense cooperation agreement between the two countries has been extended for ten years. The Airbus H125 helicopters will be manufactured at the Tata-Airbus plant in Vemagal, Karnataka. This utility helicopter has the ability to withstand adverse weather conditions and even reach Mount Everest.Please go threw several Posts available in Posts Menu
The latest agreement will not only allow India to do this but also sell it abroad. The target is to deliver the first Made in India H-125 helicopter by March 2027. An agreement has also been signed to produce Hammer missiles, which can hit targets with high accuracy, in India. For this, French company Safran, which developed Hammer missiles, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) will form a joint venture.
These Hammer missiles, which can be used from Rafale fighter jets, have a maximum range of 70 kilometers.
To promote investment between the two countries… an agreement has been signed without double taxation on both sides. It has been decided to set up special Indo-French centers for mutual cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital science and technology, and aviation in the health sector.
Prime Minister Modi and Macron launched a special program called ‘India-France Year of Creativity’.
An ‘Indo-French Innovation Network’ will be set up to coordinate the innovations of the two countries. As part of the ‘Innovation Year’ program, Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space and Karnataka-based Pixel Space have signed an agreement with French space agency ExoTrail. ExoTrail will supply the electric propulsion systems required for the satellites launched by Dhruva and Pixel.More Information available on internet websites.
The partnership between India and France knows no boundaries. This partnership can extend from the depths of the ocean to the highest mountain peaks. “The joint manufacturing of H-125 helicopters is a sign of deep trust between the two countries,” Modi said. Macron said that France is India’s most reliable partner.
Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron virtually inaugurated the Tata-Airbus unit in Vemagallo, Kolar district of Karnataka. Defense Minister Rajnath, Aviation Minister Rammohan and French Defense Minister Catherine Ashton participated in the event held in Vemagallo. Along with the H-125, the H-125M helicopters required for the military will also be manufactured here.