The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, will begin a week-long official tour of France on Tuesday to visit the Paris Air Show and to witness a joint aerial exercise by the two countries.

"Air Chief Marshal Tyagi is likely to be the cynosure of all eyes and a popular visitor to this air show in the wake of the request for information for 126 fighter aeroplanes issued by the IAF," said an air force spokesman.

France, Sweden and the United States have so far responded to India's proposal to buy the 126 jets to refurbish its ageing fleet of warplanes.

All major companies will be represented at the Paris Air Show including Dassault (France), SAAB (Sweden), Lockheed Martin, Boeing (both US) and RAC MiG (Russia).

Tyagi will be accompanied by a five-member high-level delegation. He will meet the chief of the French Air Force and will take time off from the air show to visit the IAF contingent at Istres that will be conducting a joint air exercise.

The IAF has sent its Su-30 combat jets for the Garuda II exercise, its second aerial war game with the French and its first experience at combat flying in Europe.

Source: Xinhua