New Delhi: France is engaged in advanced negotiations with India to procure a domestically developed multi-barrel rocket launcher system, marking a potential milestone in defense cooperation between the two nations. If finalized, this deal would represent the first instance of France, India’s second-largest arms supplier, acquiring weaponry from New Delhi.
India, recognized as the world’s leading arms importer, has been actively working to bolster its domestic defense manufacturing capabilities. As part of its push for self-reliance in defense, the country has steadily increased its defense exports.
According to a senior Indian defense official, France has shown significant interest in the Pinaka rocket launcher system, which has a strike range of up to 90 kilometers (56 miles). “France is in active talks for Pinaka,” said Ummalaneni Raja Babu, Director General of Missiles and Strategic Systems at India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), during the Aero India aerospace exhibition in Bengaluru.
A second official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that a French delegation had evaluated the Pinaka system in India approximately three months ago and found its performance satisfactory. “A deal has not been reached yet, but the talks are continuing,” Babu added.
The development coincides with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to France, where he is co-chairing an artificial intelligence summit in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders are also set to engage in bilateral discussions, though it remains unclear whether the potential defense deal will be part of the agenda. India’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the matter, and the French embassy in India has also remained silent outside business hours.
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France has been a key defense partner for India, ranking as its second-largest arms supplier after Russia between 2019 and 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The Pinaka system, originally deployed by the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil War, has since undergone significant advancements, with ongoing enhancements aimed at extending its range and capabilities, Babu noted.
If the deal materializes, it would mark a significant shift in India’s defense export trajectory, reinforcing its ambitions to establish itself as a global arms supplier.
