Indian military aviation's French connection blossoms further as Rafale M, Safran engine deals set to deepen ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in France as the guest of honour at the Bastille Day Parade. There are plans to move forward in many areas of cooperation ranging from defence, security to energy. Three Rafale fighter jets of the IAF are taking part in the Bastille Day flypast over the Champs Elysees in Paris on 14 July, and a tri-services contingent is participating in the parade along with their French counterparts. There are events and actions that indicate the great bonhomie between the two friendly nations and strategic partners, and the chemistry between the leaders. But clearly, the…