NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday witnessed the mid-air refuelling of an F-35 fighter jet while travelling onboard a KC-30A multirole tanker transport aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from Sydney to Canberra. His visit marks a significant step in advancing India-Australia defence and strategic cooperation.The defence ministry said in a post on X, “Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh onboard KC-30A Australian Royal Australian Airforce multirole tanker transport aircraft. He witnessed the air-to-air refuelling of F-35 while travelling from Sydney to Canberra. India and Australia had signed an agreement allowing the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indian armed forces to conduct air-to-air refuelling in 2024.”Rajnath Singh arrived in Canberra as part of his official engagements in Australia aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties. At the airport, he was received by Australia’s Assistant Minister of Defence Peter Khalil and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations.At Parliament House, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome by deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles. A traditional ‘Welcome to Country’ smoke ceremony, an Aboriginal Australian ritual acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land, was held in his honour.Rajnath Singh held comprehensive discussions with Richard Marles in the presence of senior defence officials from both sides. The leaders appreciated the rapid growth of India-Australia defence cooperation and described the talks as productive, forward-looking, and focused on expanding strategic coordination.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also joined the meeting, underscoring the importance Canberra places on its partnership with New Delhi. Visuals showed Albanese warmly shaking hands with Rajnath Singh, alongside frames featuring Albanese, Marles, and Singh together, symbolising unity and cooperation between the two Indo-Pacific partners.