France has noted the performance of Indian weapon systems during Operation Sindoor and is interested in looking at long-range rockets, loitering munitions and counter-drone systems, French Army chief General Pierre Schill told ET.
The senior officer, who is in the national capital for the UN Troop Contributing Countries Chiefs conference, said the two nations can look at co-developing capabilities for the emerging battlefield, including in the areas of artificial intelligence and electronic warfare.
“I’m interested in looking at what are the systems used by the Indian Army because it is a time when I’m renewing my own long-range artillery systems,” the general said, referring to the possible acquisition of long-range Pinaka rocket systems by French forces.
It may be noted that France has expressed interest in acquiring a longer-range version of the indigenous Pinaka rocket systems that have proven to be accurate and cost effective. Demonstrations of the system have already been made to France in the past.
Gen Schill said while India and France can cooperate in all new domains of warfare, long-range systems and loitering munitions are of specific interest. “The Indian Army is using those systems very accurately because of your industry and because of the way they are able to adapt them to operations. And what we have seen in Operation Sindoor is very important,” he said.
The officer, who met Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday, also identified counter-drone capabilities as an area for cooperation. “Perhaps electronic warfare, artificial intelligence are domains in which cooperation could be very efficient because of the ability of our two armies,” Gen Schill said.
The French general shared that India and France are looking to institutionalise annual army training exercises, building on the Shakti series. He said the two sides are not only looking at increasing the number of training exercises but also the complexity of the joint training to include UAV training, counter-drone operations and electronic warfare.
