SIXTH INDO-FRENCH DEFENCE HIGH COMMITTEE
MEETS
The sixth Indo-French
Defence High Committee met in New Delhi today. The meeting was
co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Ajay Prasad and Personal
Representative of the French Defence Minister Mr. Jean-Francois
Thibault. The meeting reviewed the overall security scenario including
the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Defence related
interactions such as the joint Air exercise Garuda and
the forthcoming joint Naval exercise Varuna were discussed.
The recent high level visits at the military and the political
level were also touched upon in the meeting.
In the areas of defence
production and R&D, the meeting reviewed various ongoing projects
and addressed the inherent impediments. Matters of cooperation
under the Indo-French Research Forum and exchange of views on
other possible areas of strategic cooperation were discussed during
the meeting.
The sub committee
on Defence Industry Procurement and Research and Technology noted
with satisfaction the progress made on Joint Development and Production
of the Shakti Engine for Advanced Light Helicopter and Larzac
engine for Interim Jet Trainer.
The Directorate General
of Armament (DGA) of France agreed to use their good offices for
supporting business activities of Defence Public Sector Undertakings
such as supply of support equipment, spare parts and major inspection
etc. concerning Mirage 2000 by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
supply of titanium and alloys to Airbus industries by Mishra Dhatu
Nigam Limited and sourcing of microwave tubes from Bharat Electronics
Limited.
The DGA has also
offered courses for Indian defence officers to study its working.
Training course in respect of various disciplines of engineering
and technology and exchange of trainees on industry and research
centers was also offered by the French side.
The Indo-French Defence
High Committee comprised of three sub-committees. The sub-committee
on Defence Industry Procurement and Research & Training was
headed by Shri HC Gupta Additional Secretary Defence Production
& Supplies; the sub-committee on Military Cooperation was
headed by Air Vice Marshal PK Barbora Assistant Chief of Integrated
Defence Staff and the Security & Strategic sub-committee was
headed by Shri Gautam Mukhopadhyay Joint Secretary (PIC).
