Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday createdhistory by becoming the first defence minister to fly in Rafale fighter jet.The defence minister took a 35-minute-long sortie in Rafale fighter jet aftertaking off from Dassault Aviation Mérignac facility in France. The two-seaterfighter jet was being flown by Philippe Duchateau, head test pilot of DassualtAviation, while Rajnath Singh sat in the rear seat behind the pilot in thecockpit.

Talking to media after landing, the 68-year-old BJP leader saidthat it was a very comfortable and smooth flight. Rajnath Singh added that itwas an unprecedented moment and he had never thought that one day he will getthe chance to fly at super sonic speed in a fighter jet. "It was a verycomfortable and smooth flight. It was an unprecedented moment, I had neverthought that one day I will fly at super sonic speed in an aircraft," hesaid.

Calling Rafale a great deterrent, Rajnath Singh said thatthe fighter jet has the ability to fire air-to-air and air-to-landsimultaneously and the addition of this aircraft is a part of India's selfdefence and it should not be seen as a sign of aggression against anyone.

"By February 2021, we will get delivery of 18 Rafaleaircraft and by April-May 2022 we will get all 36 aircraft. This is a part ofour self defence and not a sign of aggression against anyone. It is adeterrent," noted Rajnath Singh.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh received the first of the36 Rafale fighter jets on behalf of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and he alsoperformed a 'Shastra Puja'. The defence minister said that he decided toperform a 'Shastra Puja' of Rafale because it is a very strong weapon(shastra). I am told that Rafale is a French word meaning gust of wind. I amsure the aircraft will live up to its name. I believe Rafale will boost India'sair dominance exponentially to ensure peace and security in the region,"the defence minister said after receiving the Rafale jet," Rajnath Singhhad said after officially receiving the first Rafale. "I am happy that thedelivery of Rafale aircraft is on schedule, I am confident that this will addfurther strength to our Air Force. I wish cooperation between our two majordemocracies further increases in all sectors," he added.

Rafale is one of the most advanced 4++ Generation fighterand it packs a lethal punch with an array of missiles and bombs, includingMBDA's deadly Meteor and Scalp as part of the Rafale weapons package. WhileMeteor is the world's best Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), thefire-and-forget Scalp is a long-range, air-launched, stand-off attack missilewhich can penetrate deep into hard rock and fortified targets.