Spanish submarines and some 43 Airbus aircraft, describing the deals as a "sign of the trust and cooperation" between the two countries. The submarine deal is estimated to be worth up to 1.9 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars). The Scorpene, a 65-metre vessel armed with torpedoes and SM39 Exocet rockets, was jointly developed by DCN of France and Navantia (formerly Izar) of Spain. The deal to acquire the French submarines, two of which are to be imported and four co-produced at the Mazgaon docks in the Western Indian city of Bombay, had been hanging for the last couple of years. The Indian Navy, keen to upgrade its aging submarine fleet, first negotiated the deal with the French three years ago, but the purchase was pending cabinet approval, which finally came last week. Two Scorpene-class submarines have already been sold by France - one to Chile and one to Malaysia. Indian press reports had meanwhile estimated the aircraft order by Indian state carrier Indian Airlines to be worth some 1.76 billion euros (2.16 billion dollars). Chirac and Singh also discussed India's bid for a permanent seat in a reconstituted U.N. Security Council, as well as issues concerning global anti-terror efforts.
