Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (File photo)
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): France has affirmed commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale aircraft despite challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday after holding a telephonic conversation with French Minister of Armed Forces, Florence Parly.
During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders discussed matters of “mutual concern” including the COVID-19 situation and regional security. “Had a telephonic conversation with French Minister of Armed Forces, Ms Florence Parly today.
We discussed matters of mutual concern including COVID-19 situation, regional security and agreed to strengthen the Bilateral Defence Cooperation between India and France,” said Rajnath Singh in a tweet.
“We also appreciated the efforts made by Armed Forces of India and France in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. France has affirmed its commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale Aircraft despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Defence Minister said in another tweet.
The first four Rafale fighter aircraft would start arriving in India by July-end this year from France . The delivery of the aircraft was earlier supposed to have been done by May end but this was postponed by two months in view of the COVID-19 situation in both India and France.
India had signed a deal worth over Rs 60,000 crore with France in September 2016 for 36 Rafale s to meet the emergency requirements of the Indian Air Force.
Armed with the long-range Meteor air to air missiles and SCALP, the Rafale s would give India an edge over both Pakistan and China in terms of air strike capability. (ANI)
