New Delhi: While France is conducting an extensive military campaign in the Pacific Ocean region, three Rafale fighter jets from the French Air and Space Force have landed at Sulu Air Force Base in Tamil Nadu, reports NDTV.
The support provided by the Indian Air Force to the French Army is a reflection of the 2018 agreement between France and India to enhance military cooperation.
A statement issued by France in this regard on Thursday mentioned that the cooperation with the Indian Air Force shows the mutual trust and exchange of military equipment between the two countries. On August 10th and 11th arrangements were made for a technical stopover at Sulur Air Force Base en route to the distant Pacific Ocean from Metropolitan France.
It is worth noting that the long-range India-Pacific campaign conducted by the French Air and Space Force code named ‘Pegasi 22’ will run from August 10 to September 18.
The purpose of the first phase of the campaign was to demonstrate how France could deploy its air force teams to the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean in less than 72 hours from metropolitan France.
The French Air Force team made a technical stopover in India on its way to its destination 16,600 km away the statement said.