PM Modi's France Visit: AI Summit and Finalization of $7 Billion Rafale-M Deal to Take Center Stage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to France for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, carries significant implications for both technology and defence cooperation between the two nations.

While the AI summit itself holds great importance, the finalization of the Rafale Marine aircraft deal is expected to be a major highlight of the visit.

France, under President Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the AI summit to foster international dialogue on the role of AI in shaping the future. The summit will focus on harnessing AI for positive social, economic, and environmental impact.

PM Modi's participation underscores India's commitment to being a leader in AI innovation and governance, alongside global powers like the US, China, and various Gulf states. The summit will delve into critical themes such as public interest in AI, the future of work, innovation, culture, trust, and global AI governance, with a particular emphasis on mitigating issues like misinformation and the misuse of AI technologies.

However, running parallel to these crucial AI discussions is the anticipated finalization of the Rafale Marine deal. This landmark agreement, valued at approximately $7 billion, involves the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighters for the Indian Navy.

These advanced jets will operate from India's aircraft carriers, significantly enhancing its maritime capabilities. The deal is expected to be signed during or just before Modi's visit, underscoring the growing strategic defence partnership between India and France.

The Rafale Marine jets are of critical importance to India's naval modernization strategy. They will provide the Indian Navy with cutting-edge capabilities for carrier operations, filling a crucial gap until India's indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) project reaches maturity.

With negotiations in the final stages, the Rafale-M deal is poised to be one of the most significant outcomes of Modi's visit to France. It represents a major step forward in Indo-French defence cooperation and highlights India's commitment to modernizing its armed forces with advanced technology.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Finally, so the INS will have new implanted teeth as Rafale-M rather than the dentures that the Mig-29K have become

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

Finally, so the INS will have new implanted teeth as Rafale-M rather than the dentures that the Mig-29K have become

Can we build a new plane based on each of the rd33 engines from each of the soon to be retired mig29k? The plane will be a Slightly heavier LCA but could solve the engine crisis.

 

[Scooter2000]

While the Rafale is a big improvement over the existing Mig-29Ks. They will nonetheless be obsolete by time they ever enter service. That is just the cold hard truth....India needs to stop wasting her precious resources on 4th Generation Designs. It's nothing short of pure folly....

 

[Anant]

Can we build a new plane based on each of the rd33 engines from each of the soon to be retired mig29k? The plane will be a Slightly heavier LCA but could solve the engine crisis.

Aircraft aren't a model kit that you can just throw random things into and build.

Can what you propose be done? Hypothetically, yes. In practice, that process can lead to many, many issues, and is far more convoluted than how you wrote.