New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly will attend the induction ceremony of Rafale fighter aircraft at Ambala Air Force station in Haryana on Thursday.
“The Indian Air Force will formally induct the Rafale aircraft on September 10, 2020 at Air Force Station, Ambala. The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said.
On July 27, the first batch of five Rafale aircraft were arrived at Air Force Station in Ambala from France.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy, along with other senior officers of defence ministry and armed forces will be present to mark a very important milestone in the history of the IAF, he said.
The French delegation will be represented by French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain, Vice-Chief of the Air Staff of the French Air Force Air General Eric Autellet and other senior officials.
A large delegation of senior functionaries of French Defence Industries which includes Eric Trappier Chairman and Chief Executive of Dassault Aviation and Mr Eric Beranger, CEO, MBDA will be present during the ceremony, Wing Commander Nandi said.
On her arrival, Ms Parly will be given a ceremonial Guard of Honour on arrival at Delhi.
At Ambala the program will include ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, Air Display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as by ‘Sarang Aerobatic Team’.
Afterwards, a traditional water cannon salute will be given to the Rafale aircraft.
The programme will culminate with the ceremonial induction of Rafale aircraft to 17 Squadron.
After the ceremonial events the Indian and French delegation will have a bilateral meeting.
UNI ASH SB 1622