The French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale jets, made a strategically important stopover at the IAF’s Sulur base in Tamil Nadu as part of a major military operation in the Pacific Ocean.
The support provided by the Indian Air Force to the French Army reflects the implementation of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement signed by France and India in 2018 to promote military cooperation.
A French readout on Thursday said cooperation with the Indian Air Force demonstrated a high level of mutual trust and interactivity between the two sides.
It said the French crew was hosted for a technical stop at Air Force Station Sulur on 10 and 11 August during a long-range deployment from metropolitan France to the Pacific Ocean.
The French Air and Space Force is carrying out a major long-range mission in the Indo-Pacific, code-named Pages 22, from 10 August to 18 September.
“The first phase of this mission is intended for a long-range air power launch by deploying an air force crew from metropolitan France in the French region of New Caledonia to the Pacific Ocean in less than 72 hours (10–12 August). ability to be demonstrated,” the statement said.
“To achieve this unprecedented 16,600 km deployment, the Air Force crew made a technical halt in India at Air Force Station Sulur,” it said.
The crew consists of three Rafale jets and ancillary aircraft.
“Landing at Air Force Station Sulur on the evening of 10 August, it took off in the early hours of 11 August, en route to New Caledonia, after refueling,” the readout said.
“The operation demonstrated a high level of mutual trust and interoperability between the French and Indian Air Force, which is further boosted by the fact that both the Air Forces now fly Rafale jets,” it said.
The readout noted cooperation between the two air forces as a “concrete” implementation of a mutual logistics support agreement.
French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenin lauded the IAF’s role in the successful operation, saying, “France is a resident power of the Indo-Pacific, and this ambitious long-range air power launch demonstrates our commitment to the region and our allies.” “
He said it was natural that France relied on India to carry out this mission and described it as France’s “most important strategic partner in Asia”.
In the following phases of Mission Pages 22, the French Air Force contingent will participate in the “Pitch Black” air exercise in Australia from 17 August to 10 September.
The Indian Air Force will also participate in this multilateral exercise along with Australia, Japan, USA, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, UK and South Korea.
Mission Page 22 is a powerful demonstration of France’s capability for rapid deployment in the Indo-Pacific.
“The mission is also evidence that the security situation in Europe has not undermined French and European commitment to the Indo-Pacific. In this regard, it aims to strengthen ties with key strategic partners,” the French readout said. Told. PTI MPB ZMN
This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.
catch all business News, market news, today’s fresh news events and breaking news Updates on Live Mint. download mint news app To get daily market updates.