In Pictures: Indian And French Air Force's Rafale Jets Fly In Close Formation, Practicing For Bastille Day Fly-Past In Paris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave tomorrow for a two-day visit — 13 July to 14 July — to France, where he will be the guest of honour for the Bastille Day military parade.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet the French President Emmanuael Macron, and likely announce the deal for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets and three scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy.

An Indian Armed Forces tri-service contingent will also participate in the Bastille Day parade.

Additionally, three Indian Air Force's Rafale jets will perform a fly-past over the Champs-Elysees in Paris, along with the French Rafale jets.

On 7 July, a 269-member tri-service contingent left for Paris with two C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft, including four Rafale fighter jets.

As part of the fly-past over Champs-Elysees, the Indian and French Air Force's Rafales are training over the Parisian skies, to practice aerial maneuvers and achieve perfect synchronisation.

Moreover, the tri-service contingent is practicing marching in Paris in preparation for the parade.

Prime Minister Modi will take part in a private dinner at the Elysee Palace, and attend a state banquet at the Louvre Museum.

Prime Minister Modi will also sign on a vision statement spanning 25 years, that will set the stage for new ambitious outcomes in areas of defence, space, infrastructure, energy and geo-strategy.