Merignac: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday formally received the Indian Air Force's first Rafale fighter jet from a series of 36 such aircraft purchased from France. Singh attended the handover ceremony along with his French counterpart Florence Parly at aircraft maker Dassault Aviation facility in Merignac, southwestern France.

He performed a brief Shastra Puja on the new aircraft as he emblazoned it with an Om tilak and offered flowers and a coconut, just before he was to take off in it for a sortie. Describing the sortie as a memorable and once in a lifetime experience, 68-year-old Singh said, "I had never imagined that I would be flown at supersonic speed; a very comfortable and smooth flight during which I was able to observe the many capabilities of the jet, its air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities". He was joined by senior representatives of the Indian Armed Forces to mark the induction ceremony.