INDIA FRANCE SCRAP MISSILE DEAL
What is the News?
- India and France are close to signing a major defence deal worth around ₹3,200 crore (300 million euros).
- India plans to purchase additional SCALP long-range cruise missiles from France.
- These missiles were successfully used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor (2025).
- A final decision on the deal is expected soon.
WHAT WAS OPERATION SINDOOR?
- Operation Sindoor was a major cross-border precision strike conducted by India in May 2025.
- It was launched after the Pahalgam terror attack (22 April 2025) in Jammu & Kashmir.
- 26 civilians were killed, including:
- One Indian Navy officer
- One Nepali citizen
- It became India’s largest strike after the Balakot Airstrike (2019).
HOW WERE SCALP MISSILES USED?
- SCALP missiles were fired from Rafale fighter jets.
- Targets included terror headquarters of:
- Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
- Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)
- Locations: Muridke and Bahawalpur (Pakistan).
- The missiles achieved pinpoint accuracy.
- After the initial strike, the Indian Air Force:
- Attacked 12 Pakistan Air Force bases
- Destroyed fighter jets and surveillance aircraft on the ground
- India used multiple high-precision weapons:
- SCALP cruise missiles
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles
- HAMMER precision-guided bombs
- Loitering munitions (used for surveillance and final strike)
- Total 9 terror-linked sites were targeted:
- 4 in mainland Pakistan
- 5 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
- The Ministry of Defence (MoD) clarified that:
- No Pakistani military installations were targeted
- Only verified terror centres were attacked
WHAT IS SCALP MISSILE?
- SCALP is also known as Storm Shadow.
- Full form: Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée.
- It means long-range autonomous cruise missile.
Type
- Air-launched cruise missile
Range
- More than 250 km
- Provides stand-off strike capability (can hit targets without entering enemy airspace)
KEY FEATURES
- Flies at very low altitude to avoid radar detection
- Uses GPS, inertial navigation and infrared seeker
- Designed for deep-penetration strikes
- Can destroy:
- Bunkers
- Command centres
- Air bases
- Ammunition depots
COUNTRIES USING SCALP
- France
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Greece
- India
- In India, it is integrated with Rafale fighter aircraft.
FUTURE PLANS OF INDIAN AIR FORCE
- India is purchasing Meteor air-to-air missiles for Rafale jets.
- 26 Rafale Marine aircraft have been ordered for the Indian Navy.
- The Air Force is planning to procure 114 additional Rafale aircraft.
- In the next 10–15 years, India may have around 200 Rafale jets.
- Rafale is expected to become the mainstay fighter aircraft of the IAF.
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