French Minister Lecornu to board INS Vikrant on November 27 off Mumbai

While maritime version of French Rafale fighter is in contention of the 26 fighter contract for aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, the last of the 36 contracted Rafale fighters will land at Jamnagar air base on December 13.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will go onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Mumbai on November 27 even as the last of the contracted 36 Rafale fighter will land at Jamnagar air base in India from France on December 13 with the help of UAE mid-air refueler.

PM Modi and President Macron had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the recently concluded G-20 summit with both countries prepared to join hands from seabed to space.In between the visits of Minister Lecornu and Diplomatic Advisor Bonne, France will be dispatch the last of the Rafale fighter jet to India on December 13. 

India and France have deep defence ties for the past decades with the latter now willing to jointly design, develop and manufacture aircraft engines and long range attack submarines in India for strengthening its defence as well as allowing it to export to third friendly countries.