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The multirole combat aircraft, flown by Phillipe Duchateau, the chief test pilot of Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of Rafale jets, took off from an airstrip near the facility of the Dassault Aviation at 7:24 p.m. IST. It landed back at the airstrip after completing a few manoeuvres at 7:54 p.m. IST.

"The credit for India's acquisition of the Rafale jets should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was all due to his decisiveness. India will receive the first 18 Rafale jets by February 2021. By April-May 2022 we will receive all 36 jets," Rajnath Singh told media channels after completing the sortie.

The pilot Duchateau informed that the Rafale jet flew beyond supersonic speeds with Rajnath seated in the rear of the cockpit. The first jet was handed over to Rajnath by the French Defence Minister Florence Parly.