India's defence minister hailed the formal commissioning Thursday of the country's first new French Rafale jets as a "strong message" to its adversaries, amid an escalating border row with China.

Indian Air Force personnel march past one of the new Rafale jets at the Ambala base
Indian Air Force personnel march past one of the new Rafale jets at the Ambala base AFP / Prakash SINGH

The first five of a $9.4-billion order for 36 Rafale aircraft formally entered service following a ceremony in Ambala in northern India.

"The induction of Rafale is a strong message for the world and especially for those who challenge India's sovereignty," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, without mentioning China directly.

French Defence minister Florence Parly attends a ceremony in India marking the induction of Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force. India has bought 36 Rafale fighters from France in a deal estimated to be worth $9.4 billion. All are scheduled to b
French Defence minister Florence Parly attends a ceremony in India marking the induction of Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force. India has bought 36 Rafale fighters from France in a deal estimated to be worth $9.4 billion. All are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2021. AFPTV / Archana THIYAGARAJAN

"Our country will not take any step to disturb peace anywhere. We expect the same from our neighbours," Singh added.

Earlier this week shots were fired for the first time in 45 years on the Himalayan border with China, after a medieval-style battle in June that saw 20 Indians killed.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the new Rafle jets would be a "game changer"
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the new Rafle jets would be a "game changer" AFP / Prakash SINGH

India and China's foreign ministers were due to meet in Moscow later Thursday in a bid to cool tensions between the world's two most-populous nations.

Since the deadly June 15 clash -- which also resulted in an unknown number of Chinese casualties -- both sides have sent tens of thousands of extra troops to the mountainous border, that has never been demarcated.

Even before relations with China nosedived, India was moving strategically closer to the West, deepening security cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia in the Asia-Pacific region.

It has also embarked on a $130-billion modernisation of its armed forces -- including ordering attack helicopters from the United States and a missile defence system from Russia.

But he cautioned: "If you are China, you're not going to take few Rafales seriously. A handful of planes cannot bog down a military power like China."

Japan Australia Russia China