Rafale jets are known for their air superiority and precision strikes on ground targets.
New Delhi:
The first batch of five Rafale multipurpose fighter jets will formally join the Indian Air Force at 10 a.m. at Ambala Air Base in Haryana, at a time when India faces a growing border line with China in the east of Ladakh. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly, Defense Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar will attend the ceremony. “The program will include the ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional sarva dharma puja, airshow of the Rafale and Tejas aircraft, as well as the Sarang aerobatic team,” said an IAF spokesperson, describing the ceremony as a “very important milestone. “. in the history of the Indian Air Force.
Here are 10 things to know about the first batch of five Rafale jets:
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The Rafale jets, built by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are known for their air superiority and precision strikes on ground targets, making them truly multi-role aircraft.
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“At 10:00 am tomorrow, the #Rafale plane will be formally listed in @IAF_MCC at the Ambala Air Force Station. The plane will be part of Squadron 17, the Golden Arrows. The Rafale planes are the first major acquisition of Indian fighter jets in more than two decades, “Defense Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted last night.
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A traditional water cannon salute will be given to the Rafale fleet before their induction ceremony to Squad 17, said IAF spokesman, wing commander Indranil Nandi.
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The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, almost four years after India signed an intergovernmental agreement with France to buy 36 jets for 59 billion rupees.
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The French delegation at the ceremony will include French envoy Emmanuel Lenain, Air General Eric Autellet, Deputy Chief of the French Air Force, Dassault Aviation President and CEO Eric Trappier, and Missile Manufacturer MBDA CEO Eric Beranger .
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After the ceremony, French Defense Minister and Rajnath Singh will hold talks in Ambala on ways to further deepen bilateral defense and security cooperation. So far, 10 Rafale aircraft have been delivered to India and five of them stayed in France to train IAF pilots. The delivery of the 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.
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A second batch of four to five Rafale jets is likely to arrive in India in November.
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Rafale are capable of carrying a variety of powerful weapons. The European missile manufacturer MBDA’s air-to-air missile Meteor beyond visual range (BVR) and the Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the Rafale jets’ weapons package. MBDA developed Meteor to combat common threats faced by the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.
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Of the 36 Rafale aircraft, 30 will be fighters and six will be trainers. The training aircraft will be two-seater and will have almost all the characteristics of combat aircraft. While the first squadron of Rafale aircraft will be stationed at Ambala airbase, the second will be based at Hasimara in West Bengal.
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The IAF 17 Squadron was resurrected in September last year. It was raised at the Ambala Air Force Station in October 1951. Squadron 17 has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire.
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