President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday took a historic sortie in an Indian Air Force fighter aircraft for about 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley in Assam.
The President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, flew for approximately 30 minutes covering Brahmaputra and Tezpur valley with a view of the Himalayas before returning to the Air Force Station, a statement from the Rastrapati Bhavan said.
"Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets are likely to fly to France to participate in Exercise Orion being held at a French air base there. The wargames are planned to be held from the third week of April to May 5," defence officials told ANI.
Senior defence officials told ANI that the Indian forces had carried out the firing of the Russian-origin missile system during trials in Russia but it is yet to be fired in the country.
Amid an ongoing conflict between Russia and the US-backed Ukraine, the Air Forces of India and the US will hold wargames at the Kalaikunda air base in West Bengal from April 10.
In a bid to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry on Thursday signed two separate contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore.
The exercise validated and refined procedures quintessential for synergized joint operations. Army Formations, Special Forces along with Indian Air Force participated in the 96-hour exercise in the Eastern Theatre.
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to request the Government of India (GOI) to name the upcoming International Airport at Indian Air force Station Halwara, Ludhiana as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport.
IAF is participating with Five Mirage-2000 jets, two C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift planes and one IL-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft, along with around 100 IAF personnel, flew from the Jamnagar air-base for the exercise at Waddington in the UK.
In a significant development amid tensions between India and China, a top American military official on Tuesday said the US and India were working on an information-sharing agreement between air forces.