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New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh right this moment welcomed the formal commissioning of the Rafale jets as a “strong message” to “those who challenge India’s sovereignty”, amid an escalating border row with China.
The first 5 of a Rs 59,000 crore order for 36 Rafale plane formally entered service following a ceremony in Haryana’s Ambala.
“The induction of Rafale is a strong message for the world and especially for those who challenge India’s sovereignty,” Mr Singh tweeted, with out mentioning China straight.
“Our country will not take any step to disturb peace anywhere. We expect the same from our neighbours,” he added.
Earlier this week photographs have been fired for the primary time in 45 years on the Himalayan border with China, after a conflict in June by which 20 Indians troopers died for the nation.
India and China’s overseas ministers have been resulting from meet in Moscow later right this moment in a bid to chill tensions.
Since the June 15 conflict — which additionally resulted in an unknown variety of Chinese casualties — either side have despatched tens of 1000’s of additional troops to the mountainous border in Ladakh.
Even earlier than relations with China nosedived, India was shifting strategically nearer to the West, deepening safety cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia within the Asia-Pacific area.
India has additionally launched into a $130-billion modernisation of its armed forces — together with ordering assault helicopters from the United States and a missile defence system from Russia.
Manoj Joshi, a defence and overseas coverage professional at New Delhi primarily based think-tank Observer Research Foundation, mentioned the brand new French jets have been a “morale booster for the country’s defence forces”.
But he cautioned: “If you are China, you’re not going to take few Rafales seriously. A handful of planes cannot bog down a military power like China.”
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