Rajnath Singh to fly Rafale aircraft in France on 8 October

"Rajnath Singh will fly a sortie on a Rafale aircraft when he formally receives the first aircraft in France on 8 October. He will fly the sortie on a two-seater trainer aircraft," a senior defence ministry official told IANS.

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. The date has been chosen for formally receiving the aircraft because Dussehra this year falls on 8 October. Air Force Day in India is also observed on 8 October.

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.