Latest news with #DassaultAviation
The Wire
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
The French Are Anxious to Know the Fate of Rafales in Operation Sindoor Combat
IAF fighter aircraft Rafale flies past during the 13th edition of Aero India, in Bengaluru. Photo: PTI/File New Delhi: For the first time, France's armed forces ministry has said it is in contact with the Indian government to 'better understand' the circumstances surrounding French-origin aircraft during the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. At a press conference in Paris on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the French defence ministry said the situation remained unclear and that Paris was attempting to make sense of conflicting accounts. 'Regarding the conflict taking place between India and Pakistan, what I mainly observe is that we are in the fog of war and that there is an intense information war. In other words, what we know most of all today is that we don't know what happened. So indeed, there are a number of allegations that I will not repeat, since there is no confirmed information,' the spokesperson said. France is understood to be particularly concerned about reports suggesting that Rafale aircrafts, supplied by Dassault Aviation and widely considered the backbone of India's combat air fleet, may have been lost in action during Operation Sindoor. 'The issue of the Rafale is, of course, of primary importance to us. We are naturally keen to understand what happened, and so we are trying to stay as close as possible to our Indian partner to better understand the situation,' the spokesperson added. 'Obviously, the most significant feedback will come from this use in high-intensity combat, which apparently, according to some reports, involved several hundred aircraft. So, of course, we are following these events as closely as possible,' the spokesperson said. Noting that the Rafale had seen two decades of active service across various theatres of war, the official said any confirmation of a combat loss would mark a first in the aircraft's operational history. 'What we can especially note today is that the Rafale has seen 20 years of operational use – 20 years of combat deployment – and that if it turns out there was indeed a loss, it would be the first combat loss of this warplane.' The Indian government has not commented on international media reports suggesting that an Indian aircraft may have been shot down or crashed during the strikes carried out on the night of May 6-7, when Indian forces targeted nine suspected terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Official statements have only acknowledged that losses are an inevitable part of warfare. At a media briefing on May 8, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that official information will be shared when the time is right. On May 11, a day after fighting ended between India and Pakistan, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal A.K. Bharti responded to a question about possible losses by stating, 'We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of it. The question is, have we achieved our objective? The answer is a thumping yes. As for details, at this time I would not like to comment on that as we are still in combat and (do not want to) give advantage to (the) adversary. All our pilots are back home'.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
What is Source Code? Why Is it crucial for fighter planes? Know its role in Missile integration and upgrades
New Delhi: Post Operation Sindoor, where Indian Armed Forces launched a brutal attack on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, there has been a lot of discussion around the term source code—specifically. According to the reports, India had requested the source code from France to integrate its own missiles into the Rafale jets, but France refused to provide it. This raises the question: What exactly is a source code? What is a Source Code? The source code of a fighter jet refers to its computer programming. This code functions like a set of instructions for the aircraft. It controls the jet's sensitive operations and functions. In other words, if any modifications are needed in the radar system of the fighter jet or if a new weapon needs to be integrated, it can only be done through the source code. Without access to the source code, it is not possible to equip the fighter jet with missiles or other weapons, nor can the jet be upgraded. All such changes and upgrades require the source code of the fighter plane. French company Dassault Aviation has manufactured the Rafale fighter jet. At India's request, it integrated Indian weapons such as the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra Mark-1 and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) into the Rafale. However, if India wishes to equip the Rafale with any new weapon during a mission or operation, it is not possible without external assistance. Due to the lack of access to the source code, only Dassault can add or configure weapons on the Rafale. India cannot independently install or modify any weapons on the aircraft. IAF Has Been Flying Mirage-2000 Since the 1980s France is considered a very close and supportive ally of India. It has consistently stood by India during times of crisis. Defense ties between the two nations go back a long way—so why is this happening now? It's true that India and France have shared decades of defense cooperation. The entire fleet of Mirage-2000 fighter jets in the Indian Air Force came from France. India purchased these jets in the 1980s, and the defense partnership between the two countries has continued ever since. What's surprising, however, is that despite the Indian Air Force flying the Mirage for over four decades, France has never provided the source code for the aircraft. As a result, India has only been able to integrate a very limited number of indigenous weapons into the Mirage.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Indonesia vies more Rafale jets
France and Indonesia have signed a preliminary defence pact that could lead to new orders of French military equipment including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. "I am delighted that the letter of intent signed today could open up a new perspective with new orders for Rafales, Scorpenes, light frigates," Macron said at a joint press conference alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo said France was one of Indonesia's main partners as it upgrades its military hardware and develops its defence industry through joint production and technology transfers. Macron arrived in Jakarta from Vietnam on Tuesday night on the second leg of his Southeast Asia tour. The French president is scheduled to fly to Singapore on Thursday. Dassault Aviation shares were up 3.4% in the morning session in Paris. The jets' performance came under scrutiny last month after reports that Rafales used by the Indian air force were shot down by Pakistan's Chinese-made jets in clashes. Reuters
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
France-Indonesia pact could lead to new Rafale jet orders, says Macron
[JAKARTA] France and Indonesia signed a preliminary defence pact that could lead to new orders of French military equipment including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday (May 28). Indonesia is the region's largest economy and Paris' biggest arms client in South-east Asia. In 2022, the two countries signed an US$8.1 billion defence deal that included an order for 42 Rafale fighter aircraft made by Dassault Aviation, as well as a series of agreements including submarine development and ammunition. 'I am delighted that the letter of intent signed today could open up a new perspective with new orders for Rafales, Scorpenes, light frigates,' Macron said at a joint press conference alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Prabowo said France was one of Indonesia's main partners as it upgrades its military hardware and develops its defence industry through joint production and technology transfers. Macron arrived in Jakarta from Vietnam on Tuesday night on the second leg of his South-east Asia tour. The French president is scheduled to fly to Singapore on Thursday. Dassault Aviation shares were up 3.4 per cent in the morning session in Paris. The jets' performance came under scrutiny last month after reports that Rafales used by the Indian airforce were shot down by Chinese-made Pakistani jets in clashes. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Indonesia has yet to receive any of the Rafale jets from the 2022 deal. The chief of the Indonesian Air Force Mohamad Tonny Harjono said in February that six jets would arrive in early 2026, state news agency Antara reported. Aside from the Rafale deal, Indonesia in 2024 struck an agreement with French state-owned shipyard Naval Group to buy two 'Scorpene' submarines, and in 2023 announced the purchase of 13 long-range air surveillance radars from France's Thales. Israel-Gaza conflict The two leaders also discussed the deepening crisis in the Middle East with Israel's military action in Gaza. 'When Palestine is recognised by Israel, Indonesia is ready to recognise Israel and we are ready to open diplomatic relations with Israel,' Prabowo said. Indonesia currently does not recognise or share any diplomatic relations with Israel. Macron reaffirmed his wish to see a two-state solution. 'Together with Saudi Arabia, we will soon be organising a conference on Gaza in New York to give fresh impetus to the recognition of a Palestinian state and the recognition of the State of Israel and its right to live in peace and security in this region,' he said. EV battery ecosystem France and mineral-rich Indonesia also signed a host of other agreements, including one on cooperation between French mining company Eramet and Indonesian sovereign wealth funds Danantara and Indonesia Investment Authority (INA). The agreement aims to 'explore the establishment of a strategic investment platform in the nickel sector, spanning upstream to downstream operations,' a joint statement from Eramet, Danantara and INA said. The partnership aims to develop the raw materials needed for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and the statement said a preliminary assessment will be made to identify projects. Danantara's Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said in the statement the two wealth funds will manage long-term financing and Eramet will contribute technical expertise and experience in executing large-scale mining projects. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel, and also holds the biggest known reserves of the metal. French food company Danone, and TotalEnergies also signed deals, according to images of a signing ceremony broadcast by Reuters TV. REUTERS
France 24
3 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Mining and defence industries benefit from Macron's visit to Indonesia
06:59 From the show As French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto this Wednesday in Jakarta, French companies like mining giant Eramet and defence provider Dassault Aviation were hoping to capitalise on these diplomatic ties. Talking to the press, Macron said there would be new orders for Dassault's Rafales fighter jets. Also, we look at the German defence tech startups benefitting from the country's rearmament drive.
