Singapore has sent six fighter aircraft to France for a joint military exercise as part of its efforts to strengthen the island state's military relation with the European country.

According to local press reports on Monday, two KC-135R tankers will provide air-to-air refueling support for the Singapore Air Force's F-16C/D fighting Falcons, which will transit through India, United Arab Emirates and Greece en route to France.

The exercise, codenamed Exercise Western Arc, will be conducted at the Dijon Air Base in eastern France from Sept. 20 to Oct. 4.

During the exercise, the first of the series with the French Air Force, the air forces of the two countries will engage in air combat and air-to-air flying manoeuvres.

Singapore's Ministry of Defense reportedly said that the exercise will give Singapore's air force a valuable opportunity to conduct a long-range deployment and air operations in realistic and challenging conditions.

It will also help enhance inter-operability and mutual understanding between the two air forces, the ministry added.

Currently, there are five Singapore air force training detachments based in the United States due to the former's limited air space.