India and France had signed a reciprocal logistics support agreement in 2018

A French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale jets, was hosted for a technical stopover at the Indian Air Force Station in Sulur during a long-distance deployment from France to the Pacific Ocean.

The Rafale jets and support aircraft landed at the Air Force Station Sulur on Tuesday evening. The contingent flew out in the early hours of Wednesday after refuelling, en route to New Caledonia, as part of Mission Pégase 22.

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 (August 10-12), the French Embassy in India said on Thursday.

The technical stopover illustrated the concrete implementation of the reciprocal logistics support agreement signed by France and India in 2018, it added.

The French Air Force contingent will be participating in air exercise “Pitch Black” taking place in Australia from August 17 to September 10. The Indian Air Force will also be part of this multilateral drill, along with Australia, Japan, United States, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, United Kingdom, and South Korea.

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, the French Embassy in India noted. It also illustrated the concrete implementation of the reciprocal logistics support agreement signed by France and India in 2018, the French Embassy added.

Lauding the IAF’s role in this successful operation, Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain, said: “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. It is only natural that to carry out this mission, we rely on India, our foremost strategic partner in Asia. My heartfelt thanks to the Indian Air Force for welcoming the French contingent.”

According to the French Embassy in India, Mission Pégase 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, such as India, and underline France’s support for security and stability in the region," the embassy added.