UPDATED: January 21, 2021 13:07 IST
The IAF kickstarted a five-day mega air exercise with French Air and Space Force involving Rafale fighter jets near Rajasthan s Jodhpur on Wednesday. (Photo: ANI)
In a sign of strong military ties between India and France, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat will undertake a sortie in a French Air Force (FAF) Rafale fighter in Rajasthan s Jodhpur on Thursday.
General Rawat will undertake the sortie on Thursday afternoon, and fly in the jet, Indian Air Force (IAF) officials told India Today.
The all-important exercise is taking place soon after the Pakistani-Chinese aircraft flew together in an exercise opposite the Jodhpur sector Bhullari. After the sortie, the CDS will also be briefed on the scope of the exercise, and how it is going to help the IAF s capabilities to undertake joint operations.
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], January 21 (ANI): In the ongoing Indo-French wargames Desert Knight-21, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat will undertake a sortie in the French Rafale fighters on Thursday. The CDS would be briefed about the wargames and how the joint exercise would be enhancing interoperability between the air forces of the two countries, Indian Air Force officials told ANI.
Apart from the operational briefing, the CDS would be undertaking a sortie in the French Air Force Rafale fighter for almost one hour and would be familiarised with the most advanced fighter in the Indian and the French Air Force inventories.
India News: In the ongoing Indo-French wargames Desert Knight-21, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat will undertake a sortie in the French Rafale fi
French A-400M tactical aircraft arrives in Jodhpur for Exercise Desert Knight 21 Thursday, January 21, 2021 By: ET
French A-400M tactical aircraft arrived at Jodhpur on Tuesday to participate in the Indo-French bilateral exercise Desert Knight 21. Today, French A-400M tactical aircraft arrived at Jodhpur. Welcome to India! tweeted Indian Air Force (IAF).
The bilateral exercise is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur from January 20 to 24. The bilateral Air Exercise, Desert Knight Exercise between Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force will commence from Wednesday. The Exercise marks an important milestone between the two forces, said the IAF.