India takes delivery of first Rafale fighter jet
New Delhi: India received its first French-made Rafale fighter jet on Tuesday, in one of the biggest-ever boosts to its deterrence capabilities vis-à-vis Pakistan and China.
The aircraft—the first of 36 ordered by India—was received by defence minister Rajnath Singh on a day the Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 87th founding day.
Singh, who arrived in Paris on Monday, later travelled to Bordeaux in south-western France to the Mérignac facility of Dassault Aviation SA, the maker of the Rafale, for the formal handover event. He was joined by French defence minister Florence Parly and several senior officials. After the handover, Singh also flew a sortie in the aircraft.
