The first batch of five Rafale jets have taken off from France are set to reach India’s Ambala city by Wednesday. These five Rafale jets will join the growing Indian fleet of aircraft after they land in India on Wednesday.
The Rafale jets will take a halt in Dubai UAE on Tuesday and then fly again to reach Ambala India.
The five Rafale jets include the trainer RB-003 (RB for Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria- the Chief of Air Staff).
Rafale aircrafts maneuvered by the world’s best pilots, soar into the sky. Emblematic of new heights in India-France defence collaboration #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia@JawedAshraf5 @DDNewslive @ANI pic.twitter.com/FrEQYROWSv
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
The IAF said:
“The first batch of five Indian Air Force Rafale is likely to arrive in India by end of July. The aircraft will be inducted at Air Force Station Ambala on July 29 subject to weather,”
“IAF aircrew and ground crew have undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft, including its highly advanced weapons systems and are fully operational now. Post arrival, efforts will focus on operationalisation of the aircraft at the earliest,”
“Beauty and the Beast”- #Rafale Fighter Aircraft. Ready to take off @MEAIndia @JawedAshraf5 @gouvernementFR @Dassault_OnAir @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @DDNewslive @ANI @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/TTAi6DHun7
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia #Rafale@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/jk3IWD9tYU
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. The jets will be equipped with European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and Hammer.
Out of the 36 jets, 30 o them will be fighter jets and will include the capacity of two people.