(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
A French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale
jets, made a strategically crucial stopover at the IAF's Sulur base
in Tamil Nadu as part of a mega military operation it carried out
in the Pacific Ocean, Trend reports citing The Indian
Express .
The support provided by the Indian Air Force to the French force
reflected the implementation of the reciprocal logistics support
agreement signed by France and India in 2018 to boost military
cooperation.
A French readout said on Thursday that the cooperation with the
Indian Air Force demonstrated a high level of mutual trust and
interoperability between the two sides.
It said the French contingent was hosted for a technical
stopover at Air Force Station Sulur on August 10 and 11 during a
long-distance deployment from metropolitan France to the Pacific
Ocean.
The French Air and Space Force is carrying out a major
long-range mission in the Indo-Pacific, code-named Pegase 22, from
August 10 to September 18.
“The first stage of this mission aims to demonstrate France's
capacity for long-distance air power projection by deploying an Air
Force contingent from metropolitan France to the French territory
of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean in less than 72 hours
(10th-12th August),” the statement said.
“To achieve this unprecedented 16,600-km deployment, the Air
Force contingent made a technical stopover in India, at Air Force
Station Sulur,” it said.
The contingent comprises three Rafale jets and support
aircraft.
“Landing at Air Force Station Sulur on August 10th evening, it
flew out in the early hours of 11th August after refuelling, en
route to New Caledonia,” the readout noted.
“The operation demonstrated a high level of mutual trust and
interoperability between the French and Indian Air Forces, which
has been further boosted by the fact that both Air Forces now fly
Rafale jets,” it said.
The readout mentioned the cooperation between the two air forces
illustrated the“concrete” implementation of the reciprocal
logistics support agreement.
“France is a resident power of the Indo-Pacific, and this
ambitious long-distance air power projection demonstrates our
commitment to the region and our partners,” French Ambassador
Emmanuel Lenain said, lauding the IAF's role in the successful
operation.
He said it is only natural that to carry out this mission,
France relied on India, and described it as France's“foremost
strategic partner in Asia”.
In the following stages of Mission Pegase 22, the French Air
Force contingent will take part in the“Pitch Black” air exercise
taking place in Australia from August 17 to September 10.
The Indian Air Force will also participate in this multilateral
drill, along with Australia, Japan, the US, Germany, Indonesia,
Singapore, the UK, and South Korea.
Mission Pegase 22 is a powerful demonstration of France's
capacity for quick deployment in the Indo-Pacific.
“The mission is also proof that the security situation in Europe
has not diminished the French and European commitment in the
Indo-Pacific. In this respect, it also aims to strengthen ties with
key strategic partners,” the French readout said.
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