Although with the Defence Minister's visit, the Rafale planes would be officially inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF), they would start arriving in India only in May 2020 after training of pilots and personnel on it.
The Defence Minister will be flying to France to receive the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft, as per a contract which India has entered into with the fighter jet's manufacturer Dassault Aviation. After receiving the Rafale fighter jets, the Defence Minister will hold talks with the French government on further strengthening the military ties. Top French military brass as well as senior officials of the Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, will also be present at the handing over ceremony.
In September, Rajnath Singh had flown a 30-minute sortie on a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Bengaluru. He had described the experience as thrilling and had also said on the occasion that India is ready to export the LCA.
The Indian planes have been equipped with a lot of India-specific enhancements, which have been fitted at a cost of around one billion euros.
(with inputs from agencies)