The Indian Embassy cited the Rafale agreement between India and France as “a new milestone in defense cooperation between India and France”.
More than four years after signing the agreement to acquire Rafale aircraft, India will receive the first batch on July 29 after five of the fighter jets took off from Merignac Air Base in southern France. India has bought 36 Rafale planes in a deal worth 7.87 billion euros.
The Indian embassy in France turned to Twitter to share a series of videos of the fighter jets. He called the Rafale agreement between India and France “a new milestone in India-France defense cooperation.”
In videos shared by the Indian Embassy, three Rafale planes can be seen taking off from the runway one after another. In a press release, the Indian Embassy also said that the fighter jets will cover a distance of 7,000 km with a single stop in the UAE and air-to-air refueling.
Rafale planes maneuvered by the best pilots in the world soar into the sky. Emblematic of new heights in the India-France defense collaboration #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia@ JawedAshraf5 @DDNewslive @AND ME pic.twitter.com/FrEQYROWSv
– India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
The first batch of combat aircraft includes five aircraft built by the French aviation company, Dassault. They will be formally installed at the Air Force Station in Ambala. In a statement, the Air Force had said: “No media coverage is planned upon arrival. The final induction ceremony will take place in the second half of August 20, in which full media coverage would be planned. ”
Before the Indian pilots took off from France, Jawed Ashraf, the Indian ambassador to France, interacted with them.
Bon Voyage: Ambassador of India to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. He congratulates them and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single jump. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia #Rafale@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/jk3IWD9tYU
– India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
He also thanked the French Government for the timely delivery of the aircraft.
The Indian Ambassador to France thanks the French government and Dassault Aviation at the Merignac facility. Conveys India’s appreciation for the timely delivery of the Rafale. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia @AND ME pic.twitter.com/m2wEA1mDvk
– India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
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