The Indian Air Force is ready to formally install its latest Rafale fighter jets at Ambala air base on Thursday in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, officials said Wednesday. French Defense Minister Florence Parly and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will attend the ceremony, they added. The two ministers are likely to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the event, officials said.
Here are five things to know about India’s latest warplanes
1. Five of the 36 Rafales ordered by the IAF arrived at Ambala air base on July 29. India had ordered the planes from France in a government-to-government deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. While the air chief and other IAF officers welcomed the Rafales and pilots upon their arrival on the 10 In September, a formal induction ceremony will be held. These Rafale aircraft are part of the IAF’s No. 17 Squadron, also known as the ‘Golden Arrows’.
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2. The next batch consisting of three or four Rafale aircraft is expected to arrive in Ambala from France in October, followed by a third batch in December, officials said. All deliveries will be completed by the end of 2021.
3. India’s new Rafale fighters will significantly enhance the air force’s offensive capabilities with their advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior radar for target detection and tracking, and the ability to carry an impressive payload, the officials said. experts.
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4. Rafale weaponry includes Meteor, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, Mica, multi-mission air-to-air missiles and Scalp, deep impact cruise missiles, weapons that allow fighter pilots to strike air targets and terrestrial. of separation ranges and fill a significant capacity gap.
5. Officials said the IAF could deploy its new Rafale fighters to the Ladakh sector as part of India’s overall plan to strengthen its military posture in the region, where Indian and Chinese forces are locked in a tense border confrontation and military friction has increased in recent years. weeks.
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