France offers to co-produce advanced combat system

"We are ready to transfer front-line technology and work to co-produce and jointly develop advanced systems like higher firepower longer ranger artillery guns and high mobility land mine secure vehicles for Indian security forces," officials of the top French land armament company, Nexter, said here.     

The French offer comes at a time when Indian Army is on the threshold of floating its biggest-ever global tenders for 2000-3000 wheeled, towed and tracked 155 mm guns of .52 calibre and 1000-2000 high speed mine protected troop carrying 4x4 and 8x8 specialised troop combat vehicles for forces operating against terrorists and Maoists.      The tenders, according to experts here, could run up to 5-7 billion Euros with deliveries expected in three to five years.     

The French offer was echoed by the country's Defence Minister Herve Morim as he threw open the five-day world's biggest land system exhibition, Eurosatory 2008 near here.     

Spelling out that terrorism had become an international scourge, Morim said France was ready to co-produce and jointly develop high-tech weapons with its strategic partners.     

His comments came as leading companies from the US, Europe, Africa and others have put on display technology- driven new weapons systems to combat terrorism keeping their first hand experience gathered during operations in Afghanistan.