Live: Five Rafale fighter jets to be inducted into IAF at Ambala airbase shortly

'Sarva Dharma Puja' conducted at IAF airbase in Ambala.

Haryana: Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly, arrive at the Indian Air Force Station, Ambala, for the Rafale induction ceremony.

A large delegation of senior functionaries of French Defence Industries which includes Eric Trappier Chairman and Chief Executive of Dassault Aviation and Eric Beranger, CEO, MBDA will be present during the ceremony.

The five Rafale aircraft to be formally inducted in 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' of the Indian Air Force, at Ambala airbase.

The French delegation will be represented by Emmanuel Lenain Ambassador of France to India, Air General Eric Autellet, Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the French Air Force and other senior officials.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly, Minister of Armed Forces of France, leave for Ambala to take part in Rafale induction ceremony.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO along with other senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces will be present to mark a very important milestone in the history of the IAF.

Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly receives a ceremonial Guard of Honour on her arrival in Delhi: ANI

French defence minister arrives in Delhi, to attend Rafale induction ceremony at Ambala

French Defence Minister Florence Parly arrived here in the national capital on an official visit on Thursday morning, ahead of the formal induction of the first five Indian Air Force Rafale jets at Ambala. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly will be the Chief Guest for the Rafale induction ceremony at Air Force Station in Ambala. Read more

Ahead of the formal induction of the first five jets at Ambala on Thursday, French defence minister Florence Parly tells TOI the two nations are further consolidating their partnership in the Indo-Pacific.

Read full interview here

Florence Parly, minister of armed forces of France arrives at Delhi. She is the chief guest for the Rafale induction ceremony at Air Force Station, Ambala.

The deal was signed in September 2016 with Manohar Parrikar as the defence minister, national security advisor Ajit Doval.

Nirmala Sitharaman as defence minister in 2018-2019 played a significant role in defending the deal when the opposition alleged corruption in the project before the general elections in April-May last year.

India has contracted for 36 Rafales under the largest-ever defence deal signed by the country worth over Rs 60,000 crore of which the majority payments have already been made to the French firm Dassault Aviation.

The Rafales armed with the air-to-air Meteor, air to ground SCALP and Hammer missiles are expected to give an edge to the Indian Air Force over its traditional adversaries China and Pakistan in the South Asian skies due to its long-range hit capabilities.

The fighter aircraft have already flown over the Ladakh region and have been familiarising with the terrain over which they have to fly in different parts of the country. The five Rafales which have arrived in the country include three single-seaters and two twin-seaters.

Five Rafale fighter aircraft arrived in India from France on July 29 and have started extensive training within 24 hours of touching down in the country. The French-origin fighter aircraft are part of the 17 Golden Arrows squadron of the Air Force.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will formally induct the five Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) today at the Ambala air base in Haryana in a ceremony for which French defence minister Florence Parly has also been invited.