The Birds have landed safely in India. By the Inter- Governmental Agreement with India and France, The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets, escorted by 2 Sukhoi 30 MKIs have entered the Indian air space and landed safely in Ambala.
The Touchdown of Rafale at Ambala. pic.twitter.com/e3OFQa1bZY
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 29, 2020
India and France Deal.
India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016 as an emergency purchase to arrest the worrying slide in the air force's combat capabilities...
India & France signed the deal for 36 Rafale jets. Rafale will significantly improve India's strike & defence capabilities. pic.twitter.com/L6pjQT1zpX
— Manohar Parrikar Memorial (@manoharparrikar) September 23, 2016
The Arrow formation (Rafales) was given ceremonial welcome by SU-30s.
Present 10 Rafale jets aircrafts manufacturer ki ready unnai ata, but konni IAF crews training kosam ippudu 5 Rafale jets ni send chesaru, migithavi proper schedule prakaram tharvatha send chestharu...
The jets will be flown by Indian pilots, All the 10 fighters are not being delivered in the first batch as some jets are needed in France to train IAF crews, from a report.
The first 5 #IAF #Rafales have taken off from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, #France today morning. These 5 include 3 single-seater and 2 twin-seater aircraft. The ferry is planned in two stages & is being undertaken by IAF pilots. 1/2#RafaleJet pic.twitter.com/0TWU5zlgvQ
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 27, 2020
Apart from the first batch, future deliveries of Rafale fighters are also being expedited. According to the original delivery schedule, the first 18 jets were to be delivered to the IAF by February 2021, with the rest expected in April-May 2022.
The flying plan: From France to India Rafale fighters Merignac Dassault Aviation France nunchi take off ayi start ayayi.. They have flown straight to the French airbase in Al Dhafra near Abu Dhabi in the UAE for a night halt.
They had 10-hour-long journey and accompanied by two mid-air refuelers of the French Air Force.
And that is how the refuelling is done mid-air #RafaleJets#RafaleInIndia now pic.twitter.com/47F5qkA7iL
— Vidya (@journovidya) July 29, 2020
Sources noted that they had a two rounds of refueling mid-air, to complete the journey... Finally, five Rafale fighter aircraft have entered India by covering a distance of almost 7,364 kilometres...
The five Rafales escorted by 02 SU30 MKIs as they enter the Indian air space.@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/djpt16OqVd
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) July 29, 2020
Game changer for India Rafale will have the ability to take off from high altitude airbases, for quick reaction deployment. Rafale is going to boost the IAF's capabilities as it comes loaded with with 13 India specific enhancements.
This will need only around 8 minutes to reach Lahore from Ambala at top speed and 3 minutes from Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal to China border.
Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh said that... This aircraft has very good flying performance and its weapons, radar and other sensors and Electronic Warfare capabilities are amongst the best in the world. Its arrival in India will make the IAF much stronger to deter any threat that may be posed on our country.
'If it is anyone who should be worried about or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity' He said..
Indian Air Force welcomes the Golden arrows(Rafales) and appreciates the support provided by French Air Force for our Rafale journey back home.
'Golden Arrows' reach home!
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 29, 2020
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and AOC-in-C WAC Air Marshal B Suresh welcomed the first five IAF Rafales which landed at Air Force Station Ambala earlier today. #IndianAirForce #Rafales@DefenceMinIndia @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/P4MDi0FWUs
Stay safe, stay home Jai Hind.
