The integration of Rafale fighter jets gives the country an edge and the ability to strike first and deep, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Monday, three days before the Air Force Day parade on October 8.
“The Rafales integration brings a platform that is way ahead and would give us an advantage and ability to strike first and deep,” Bhadauria, the head of the Indian Air Force (IAF), was quoted as saying by the ANI news agency.
Bhadauria added that India has commissioned Rafale fighter jets, Chinook and Apache helicopters and integrated them according to the IAF concept of operations in record time. “In the next 3 years, we will see the Rafale and LCA Mark 1 squadrons operating in full force, along with the order for additional MiG-29s in addition to the current fleets,” he said.
He also shared the vision of continuing to increase the IAF’s combat capability and credibility as a force to be reckoned with through modernization and operational training, and substantially increase the indigenous team to achieve self-reliance and strategic autonomy.
During the IAF Day Flypast, all eyes will be on the Rafale jets that will participate for the first time. A total of 56 aircraft, including 19 helicopters and seven transport aircraft, will fly during the parade.
“Rafale is a 4.5 generation twin-engine, air supremacy, interdiction, air reconnaissance, ground support, depth attack, anti-ship and nuclear deterrent aircraft equipped with a wide range of weapons,” the IAF tweeted on Saturday.
The newly incorporated Rafale fighter jets were put into operation in the Ladakh theater, where the army is on its highest state of alert amid the border clash with neighboring China. The IAF currently has a fleet of five Rafale fighters. India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth 59 billion rupees in September 2016.
Jaguar, Sukhoi-30, Mig 29, Texas, Mirage 2000, Mig 21 Bison will be part of the parade, in addition to Mi 35 gunships, Apache attack helicopters, C 17 heavy lifters, C130 J Special Ops aircraft. Chinook multi-mission helicopters will also appear during the flight.
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