Rajnath takes a sortie on Rafale

After formally receiving the newly inducted French-built Rafale fighter, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday flew a sortie in Bordeaux, France. It was being flown by the head test pilot of Dassault Aviation, Philippe Duchateau.

#WATCH Mérignac(France): #Rafale jet carrying Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes off for a sortie. It is being flown by Philippe Duchateau, head test pilot of Dassualt Aviation. pic.twitter.com/i99hZmB7aF

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2019

Beforeflying the sortie, the Defence Minister performed Shastra Puja on the occasionof Vijayadashami. Singh wrote 'Om' on the jet and laid flowers and a coconut onit.

"It was a very comfortable and smooth flight. It was an unprecedented moment, I had never thought that one day I will fly at supersonic speed in an aircraft," the Minister said after taking the sortie in Rafale. He further said that by February 2021, India will get delivery of 18 Rafale aircraft and by April-May 2022, 36 aircrafts will be delivered to India.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: By February 2021, we will get delivery of 18 #Rafale aircraft and by April-May 2022 we will get all 36 aircraft. This is a part of our self defence and not a sign of aggression against anyone. It is a deterrent. https://t.co/YKGtRu2sZi pic.twitter.com/tYSFMBC6I3

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2019