IAF chief Dhanoa holds talks with French counterpart

NEW DELHI: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Monday held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart General Andre Lanata and deliberated on ways to further deepen cooperation between the air forces of the two countries, officials said.
General Lanata, accompanied by a high-level delegation of the French Air Force, arrived here yesterday on a five-day India visit.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa and General Lanata deliberated on further enhancing cooperation between the two air forces, officials said.

The Chief of the Staff of French Air Force also held talks with Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat.

Defence and security ties between India and France have been on an upswing in the last few years and the two nations have resolved to strengthen the relationship further.

Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa had visited France in July last year during which he had also taken stock of the progress on the supply of 36 Rafale fighter jets by French aviation major Dassault to the IAF under a Euro 7.87 billion (approx Rs 59,000 crore) deal.

The fighter jets will be capable of carrying nuclear weapons and be equipped with the latest missiles that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch-rivals Pakistan. Dhanoa is also likely to fly a sortie in a Rafale jet.