French aerospace and defense company Safran Group is reportedly planning to establish a defense electronics manufacturing facility in India. The facility would produce sensors and critical electronics components to support military platforms. This potential move comes amid growing cooperation between India and France in advanced technology sectors.
The development was disclosed during a recent strategic dialogue between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and key French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bonne. The discussions also included collaboration on advanced materials and metallurgy, essential for manufacturing both military and civilian engine components.
In related developments, India and the United States announced plans in September to set up a semiconductor fabrication plant in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. The facility, tentatively named “Shakti,” will focus on producing chips for military and national security applications. The collaboration includes Indian entities Bharat Semiconductors and 3rdiTech, alongside the US Space Force, marking the first such semiconductor partnership between the two nations.
The new plant is expected to reduce India’s semiconductor imports for defense, which currently amount to over $1 billion annually. The project, backed by the India Semiconductor Mission, aims to substitute imports with local production, potentially saving up to Rs 6,000 crores. Additionally, future plans may include exporting chips to Quad nations, as well as regions in Asia Pacific and Africa.