Rafale Fighter Jet To Be Inducted In IAF In A Grand Ceremony
Rafale Fighter Jet To Be Inducted In IAF In A Grand Ceremony
Rafale fighter jet will become a part of IAF in the induction ceremony next month. The ceremony will be held on 10 September and host by top military officials and Union Defence Minster, Rajnath Singh, at Ambala airbase Haryana. Defence chief Gen Bipin Rawat will also be present in the ceremony. French Defence Minister Florence Parly is also invited as the chief guest for the induction ceremony. India looks forward to building a strong strategic relationship with France through the Rafale induction ceremony. The jets will make a part of ’17 Squadron Golden Arrows’.
Indian Air Force got their hands packed on the delectation, as the next batch of Rafale aircraft would arrive somewhere in October, which would surely be a proud moment for every Indian. After the induction ceremony of the first five Rafale, a second batch of four Rafale will arrive. The remaining aircraft will arrive by the end of next year. Most probably the second set of aircraft will be home to the Hasimara base in West Bengal.
The IAF ceremony of October also holds significance for the future talk of the next batch of aircraft with Parly. Months back on a telephone conversation with India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh, Parly stated her eagerness to enhance bilateral defence relations with India.
Arrival Of Rafale In India
After a long delay, India witnessed the arrival of five ready-to-fight advance Rafale fighter jets from France to Ambala airbase on 29 July 2020. Indian pilots had flown about 8500 km from France, with a halt in the United Arab Emirates. In which two double seats and three single seats are available. Upon arrival, IAF gave the aircraft a water salute, where Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Bhadoria was also presented. Soon after arrival, the jets were prepared for extensive training and were given a route to various regions of the country.
The arrival of Rafale Jet is India’s biggest victory in defence in 23 years. Earlier in 1997, the Government of India bought Sukhoi jets from Russia.
Rafale Significance
Rafael jets were built in France by French Dassault Aviation, which is translated as a gust of wind. This fighter jet is equipped with many features, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. This will help the Indian Air Force to triumph over neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China.
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Rafale is of 4.5 generation multirole fighter aircraft, is one of the most dangerous fighter jet in the world. Its maximum weight is 24,500 kg and has the load capacity of 9,500 kg. Designed in such a way that it can easily carry small nuclear weapons too, in adverse conditions. It can also carry long and short-range missiles with the ability to execute sea and sound attacks. With a sleek figure of 10.3 m length and 5.3 m height can go with the speed of 1,389km/hr.
Rafale Deal Background
India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 to purchase 36 Rafale jets in functional condition. The Rs 59,000-crore deal was sealed by the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar with the French government.
In October 2019, the current Defence Minister signed a deal with France during the Dussehra festival.
