Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday received the first of 36 Rafale fighter jet at Dassault Aviation in France.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was preceded by Shastra Puja.
‘It is a historic day,’ Rajnath Singh said before accepting the aircraft.
“This ceremony indeed is a historic and landmark day for the Indian Armed Forces. This ceremony signifies the depth of the strategic partnership between India and France,” the minister added.
Singh said, “I look forward to flying in the Rafale aircraft. This will be a great honour and experience for me. I thank Minister Parly for this gesture.”
“Today marks a new milestone in the Indo-French Strategic Partnership and indeed a new high in the bilateral defence cooperation,” he added.
Earlier today, Singh held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
“Had an excellent meeting with the President of France Mr. @EmmanuelMacron at Elysee Palace in Paris today. We had a comprehensive discussion covering a wide range of issues,” Rajnath said in a tweet.
