1. Rajnath Singh co-chairs 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister Sebastien Lecornu in New Delhi
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The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the visiting French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu jointly chaired the 4th India France Annual Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on 28 November 2022. Sebastien Lecornu is also scheduled to meet the External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today.
The French defence minister who is officially known as Minister for the Armed Forces is on a two day (27-28 November) visit to India to strengthen the bilateral defence ties with India. It is his first official visit to India.
On 27 November 2022 Sebastien Lecornu visited the Southern Naval Command Headquarters at Kochi and saw India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
According to the Defence Ministry, India and France have close and friendly relations. In 1998, the two countries entered into Strategic Partnership, marking convergence of their views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship.
The areas of Defence & Security cooperation, Space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation constitute the principal pillars of India’s Strategic Partnership with France.
India and France military exercises.
The 20th Indian and French navy’s joint exercise “VARUNA” was conducted in the Arabian Sea from 30 March to 3 April 2022.
The 'Garuda VIl' exercise was held from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
2. Indian Air Force chief and French Air Force chief participates in the Garuda VII exercise
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The Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, and Chief of the Air Staff of French Air and Space Force (FASF) General Stéphane Mille flew aircraft in the ongoing Garuda VII exercise being held at Jodhpur on 8 November 2022.
The 7th 'Garuda VIl' exercise is being held from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari flew the French made Rafale fighter plane while General Stéphane Mille flew the Indian Su-30MKI fighter.
For the first time the indigenous LCA Tejas and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand is participating in an international military exercise.
Apart from the LCA and LCH, the IAF contingent consists of Su-30 MKI, Rafale and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as Mi-17 helicopters. The IAF contingent also includes Combat Enabling Assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS, AEW&C and Garud Special Forces.
Four French Air Force Rafale fighters and one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft are participating in the exercise.
