In a major boost to the firepower of the Indian Air Force (IAF), three more French Rafale multiple combat fighter jets are expected to arrive in India very soon. Five Rafale aircraft flew to Ambala airbase via Abu Dhabi on July 29 and have now been incorporated into IAF Squadron 17. However, this has caused panic and tension in Pakistan and it has rushed to China for help.
Amid fears over the acquisition of Rafale jets by India, Pakistan is trying to buy more than 30 J-10 (CE) fighter jets and their missiles through emergency purchases from China. According to the sources, in October, a team from Pakistan visited China and finalized the discussion on the purchase of 50 J-10 (CE) fighter jets. Now, Pakistan is trying to acquire 30 planes and missiles, out of a total of 50, under emergency purchase.
The discussion about the purchase of the Chinese J-10 started in 2009: Pakistan started discussing the purchase of the Chinese J-10 in 2009, but after the conversation about joint production of the JF17 aircraft began, it was suspended. After the Rafale plane reached the Indian Air Force, Pakistan started that discussion again. According to sources, a 13-member team of Pakistani officials went to China on October 22 to finalize the deal.
J10 jets feature (CE): The J10 (CE) is the export version of the J-10C of the Chinese Air Force and is believed to be of the 4.5 generation. The J10 was inducted into the Chinese Air Force in 2006. It also has PL10 and PL15 air-to-air missiles up to 250 km apart from the improved radar (AESA). This single-engine fighter plane can carry up to 6000kg of weapons at a time. It can fit 11 missiles or bombs.
Pakistan concerned about Rafale missiles: Pakistan’s concerns are METEOR air-to-air missiles at Rafale and MICA missiles on the ground. There are no Pakistan Air Force fighter planes equipped with these missiles. The Pakistani Air Force has the largest number of Chengdu J7, Mirage 3 and Mirage 5, which are five decades old and can be considered equivalent to MiG-21s.
Even adding the modern 110 JF17s and 75 F16s, the number of good fighters is far less than the number of MiG-29, Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi 30 of the Indian Air Force. With the arrival of Rafal, this balance tips completely in favor of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistan Air Force is also concerned about the world’s best S-400 air defense system, which will likely be supplied to the Indian Air Force by 2021.
The five Rafale jets were installed at the IAF Ambala Air Base on September 10 in the presence of the Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly. Under the 2016 deal, India will receive 36 Rafale aircraft from France as part of a 59 billion rupee deal.
The next batch of three Rafales will arrive at the Ambala airbase on November 4 directly from the Bordeaux-Merignac facility, according to sources. The three Rafales will arrive at Ambala flying nonstop from France. They will also be accompanied by a French Air Force fighter and airborne refueling. With its arrival, the total number of Rafale aircraft in the Indian Air Force will reach eight.
The Rafale jets will fly directly from Istres in France to Jamnagar and will be accompanied by air-refueling planes from the French Air Force. A team of experts led by the Deputy Chief of Air Personnel (Projects) is coordinating the logistical problems to receive the three fighter jets, according to the IANS news agency. Air force pilots are being batch trained in France at Saint-Dizier air base.
Seven Rafale fighters are already being used for IAF fighter pilot training in France.
Earlier after the Rafale aircraft induction, Rajnath Singh had said that the Rafale deal is a game changer. “I am sure that our air force has acquired a technological advantage with Rafale,” the minister had pointed out. The Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft and has the latest weapons, superior sensors and a fully integrated architecture. It is an omnidirectional aircraft, which means that it can carry out at least four missions in one sortie.
.
