The Indian Air Force will formally install the Rafale fighter jets at Ambala airbase on Thursday in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly, the IAF said in a statement Wednesday.
Five Rafales out of 36 ordered by the IAF arrived at Ambala airbase on July 29, ending the IAF’s agonizing wait for new fighter jets to sharpen their combat potential. While Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and other senior officials welcomed the Rafales and pilots upon arrival, a formal induction ceremony is now underway. These Rafale aircraft are part of the IAF’s No. 17 Squadron, which is also known as the ‘Golden Arrows’.
Defense Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar and Defense Research and Development Organization Chief G Satheesh Reddy were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. Dassault Aviation President Eric Trappier will also be in attendance. Rafales are manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
“In Ambala, the program will include the ceremonial inauguration of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, an airshow of the Rafale and Tejas aircraft, as well as the aerobatic team of the Sarang helicopter,” the IAF statement said. After the ceremonial events, the Indian and French delegations will hold a bilateral meeting, he added.
The next batch of three to four Rafale jets is expected to arrive in Ambala from France in October, followed by a third batch in December, authorities said. All deliveries will be completed by the end of 2021. India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a government-to-government deal worth 59 billion rupees in September 2016.
India’s new Rafale fighters will significantly enhance the air force’s offensive capabilities and prove to be a game changer with their advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior radar for target detection and tracking, and ability to carry an impressive payload. experts said previously. Hindustan Times.
Rafale weaponry includes Meteor air-to-air missiles beyond visual range, Mica multi-mission air-to-air missiles, and Scalp deep-attack cruise missiles, weapons that allow fighter pilots to strike air and ground targets from distant distances and fill a significant capacity gap.
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