"The possibility of a rift within the Western alliance over what is happening in the Middle East, especially in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel has intensified its military offensive, cannot be denied," Seshadri Vasan, a retired Commodore and Indian Navy veteran, told Sputnik India.
Vasan called France's potential purchase of the Pinaka MBRLS good news for India's defence industry, as the country's military-industrial complex seeks to expand the scope of its exports. He believes the French interest in acquiring the system could stem from several factors, chief among them its proven credibility. The Pinaka's deployment in different environmental areas such as high mountainous peaks of the Himalayas and the Thar desert in Rajasthan, along with its testing by other nations like Armenia, has further bolstered its reputation.
"Any publicity is good for a product, something which may prove to be true in the case of Pinaka as well. Undoubtedly, there is an increased level of confidence in Indian military items, which augurs well for the Government of India's target of achieving $5 billion in military exports in the next couple of years," Vasan elaborated.
"What's more, this could be a quid-pro-quo sort of thing between India and France. For some time now, India has been pursuing France to agree to make Rafale jets under the 'Make in India' initiative as part of New Delhi's plans to acquire 114 multi-role combat aircraft for its air force," Achint expressed.