French naval chief holds talks with top Army brass

With his country bidding for a multi-million dollar joint development of killer submarines and warships, visiting French Naval Chief Admiral Jean Louis Battet on Wednesday met Defence Minister George Fernandes and top brass of armed forces.
Kicking off his five-day-crucial tour, Admiral Battet held "substantive" talks with his Indian counterpart Admiral Madhvendera Singh and later held a meeting with Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy and Deputy Army Chief Lt Gen R Khanna.

After a round of navy-to-navy talks, the French Naval Chief called on Fernandes and Defence Secretary Yogendra Narain.

Admiral Battet's visit here comes in the backdrop of reports of finalisation of a major Indo-French deal to build six Scorpene Killer class submarines, which are stated to be a generation ahead of Pakistan's French acquired Agosta submarines.
The French have also offered collaboration in design and development of India's indigenous Aircraft carrier.

During his stay, Admiral Battet would tour Mazagoan dock in Mumbai, where India's submarine building facilities are located.

He would also visit naval establishments of the Eastern Naval Command. The visit by French Naval Chief would follow holding of second Indo-French Naval exercises off the Western coast from May 14 to 16.
Bureau Report