Fourth batch of 3 Rafale fighter jets arrive in India from France
The fourth batch of 3 Rafale fighter jets arrived in India from France on Wednesday. The jets had been offered mid-air refuelling by plane from the United Arab Emirates.
“The 4th batch of three IAF Rafales landed on Indian soil after a direct ferry from Istres Air Base France. Rafales were refuelled in-flight by UAE Air Force tankers. This marks yet another milestone in the strong relationship between the two Air Forces,” the Indian Air Force mentioned in a press release.
The first batch of 5 Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, practically 4 years after India signed an inter-governmental settlement with France to acquire 36 of the plane at a price of Rs 59,000 crore.
The formal induction ceremony of the fleet had taken place at Ambala on September 10 final.
A second batch of three Rafale jets arrived in India on November 3 whereas a 3rd batch of one other three jets joined the IAF on January 27. The first Rafale squadron relies in Ambala air drive station.
The Indian Air Force is ready to boost the second squadron of the Rafale fight jets in mid-April and it will likely be primarily based in Hasimara air base in West Bengal, in response to navy officers.
India is anticipated to get extra Rafale jets from France in the following few months.
The Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace main Dassault Aviation, are India’s first main acquisition of fighter planes in 23 yr after the Sukhoi jets had been imported from Russia.
The Rafale jets are succesful of carrying a spread of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor past visible vary air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system would be the mainstay of the weapons bundle of the Rafale jets.
READ MORE: Major enhance for IAF, 10 Rafales to hitch in one month
