- French Defense Minister Florence Parly is on an official visit to India on Friday to strengthen strategic and defense ties between India and France. While attending an event, he said that his country is ready to provide additional Rafale fighter aircraft to India if needed. Parli made this remark at the think-tank ahead of talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on a wide range of issues.
Supply under contract The French Embassy said in a statement on Thursday that, despite the Kovid-19 epidemic, 33 Rafale fighter jets have been supplied to India on time. India signed an ... French Defense Minister Florence Parly is on an official visit to India on Friday to strengthen strategic and defense ties between India and France. While attending an event, he said that his country is ready to provide additional Rafale fighter aircraft to India if needed. Parli made this remark at the think-tank ahead of talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh on a wide range of issues
Supply under contract The French Embassy said in a statement on Thursday that, despite the Kovid-19 epidemic, 33 Rafale fighter jets have been supplied to India on time. India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 59,000 crore. Parle said in response to a question that "I am very happy that the Indian Air Force is satisfied with the Rafale aircraft and we are very proud that despite the Kovid epidemic, we have got the aircraft delivered under the agreement on time."
Ready to give additional Rafale The French Defense Minister also hinted at plans to induct a second aircraft carrier into the Indian Navy's fleet. He said that France is interested in supplying ship-based fighter jets. We know that the aircraft carrier will soon be in service and will need planes. In such a situation, if India decides, then it is ready to provide us many more Rafales. Let us tell you, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant is planned to be inducted into the Indian Navy in August next year. The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets manufactured by French company Dassault Aviation arrived in India on July 29 last year. According to the information, France has expressed its intention to negotiate with India for the purchase of 36 more Rafale fighter jets.