Why are the French Rafale Jets flying into India, despite hullabaloo over the Rafael deal? The French Air Force on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership has organized Mission PEGASE in the Asia-Pacific region that kick-started on September 1 and will conclude on September 4.
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The French, aiming to strengthen their presence in the Indo-Pacific and their mission in India, will make a three-day stopover in India. The main highlight of the three-day stay in India is the detachment of three Rafale combat jets that France will be projecting.
The operational mission consists of one Atlas A-400M military transport aircraft, one C-135 refuelling aircraft, and one Airbus A310 cargo aircraft. The mission would involve over a hundred pilots, making the stopover for three days at the Air Force Stations of Gwalior and Agra. On this occasion, joint flights and exchanges between the French and Indian Air Forces will be carried.
