Three Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets, as part of the military contingent, are poised to participate in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees, Paris, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the guest of honour, as per the release.
"Four IAF Rafales flew a long-range mission for over six hours into the IOR. The aircraft "fought" through a large force engagement en route to their Weapon Release Point," Indian Air Force stated.
Amid the ongoing standoff with China along the Northern borders, Indian Air Force's first and only female Rafale fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh praised the performance of her aircraft in the high altitude area.
"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.
Security personnel of the Indian Air Force nabbed a 'suspicious' youth, trying to scale the 12-foot-high outer wall of the air base of Ambala, home to the newly-inducted Rafale fighter aircraft, officials said.
The seventh edition of the bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), 'Exercise Garuda-VII' concluded at Air Force Station, Jodhpur on Saturday.
India will receive its 36th and final Rafale fighter jet from France by December 15 completing the delivery of all the aircraft it had signed for in an over Rs 60,000 crore deal inked in 2016.
Showcasing the defence and bilateral ties between the two countries, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari flew in its Rafale fighter jet, while French Air chief Gen Stephane Mille flew in an Indian Russian-origin IAF Su-30MKI fighter during 'Garuda VII' bilateral exercise in Jod