New Delhi: France on April 28 offered India a long-term military-to-military co-operation on joint development, technology transfer and sale of hi-tech weapons systems.

Asserting that the move towards a multi polar world was a must, especially after the recent war in Iraq, the visiting French Defence Minister Michelle Alliott-Marie, who held wide-ranging security dialogue with Indian leadership, said only those countries, which had a credible defence deterrent would be heard.

Declaring that in the present turmoil in international relation forging of close military co-operation had become a necessity, Alliott-Marie said Paris wanted the "deepening of the intensity of its defence relations with New Delhi".

The Minister's assurance comes in the background of France not falling in line with other Western nations in imposing armament sanctions against India post Pokhran nuclear tests.

As the two countries were poised for signing of an estimated $ two billion deal for manufacture in India under licensed production of six advanced diesel propelled Scorpene submarines, she said France was committed to carrying out upgrades of its weapons systems sold to India and maintaining them at optimal operational use.

She also said France had offered the sale of its upgraded Mirage 2000-5 to India along with technology transfer. Paris has offered thermal imagers for India's Russian made T-72 and T-90 tanks and angular determination system for artillery.

PTI