Delivery Of First Rafale Within Two Months, All 36 Within Two Years: French Ambassador

France's Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler on Friday (5 July) stated that Dassault would deliver the first Rafale fighter jet to the Indian Air Force (IAF) within two months, perfectly on time, reports The Economic Times.

Calling Rafale an excellent aircraft which would add a lot to the capacity of the IAF, Ziegler noted that all 36 fighter jets ordered by the Government of India will be delivered to IAF within the next two years.

Hailing the improving ties between the two nations, Ziegler said, " I think this 50-year-old partnership will develop into a partnership of the next 50 years. I am confident about that."

On the political controversy over the Rafale jets’ purchase in India, the ambassador said, "I am not interested in controversy. I am interested in results, and in the facts, and the facts are that the first Rafale is coming in within the next two months, and I am proud of that."

Ziegler also emphasised that the two nations have an exceptional and strategic partnership which is developing on the economic front with more and more French investment coming to India.