After formally receiving the newly inducted French-built Rafale fighter, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday flew a sortie in Bordeaux, France. It was being flown by the head test pilot of Dassault Aviation, Philippe Duchateau.

Beforeflying the sortie, the Defence Minister performed Shastra Puja on the occasionof Vijayadashami. Singh wrote 'Om' on the jet and laid flowers and a coconut onit.

"It was a very comfortable and smooth flight. It was an unprecedented moment, I had never thought that one day I will fly at supersonic speed in an aircraft," the Minister said after taking the sortie in Rafale. He further said that by February 2021, India will get delivery of 18 Rafale aircraft and by April-May 2022, 36 aircrafts will be delivered to India.