Rafale fighter jets in India Highlights: After flying for around 7,000 km, the beasts, Rafale have landed at the Ambala Air Force Base. At Ambala, they are received by the Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Five French-made fighter jets, which have been considered as game-changer for Indian Air Force will be inducted in the No. 17 Squadron, ‘Golden Arrows’. These fighter jets took off from Merignac airbase in the French port city of Bordeaux and covered around thousands of miles before arriving at the Ambala Air Force Base. Meanwhile, the Ambala Cantt area has been declared as a ‘no-drone area’ as it is a sensitive zone. Also, no photography allowed in the area, and If anyone violates these orders, action will be taken against them, warned DSP Ambala Cantt Ram Kumar. Sector 144 CrPC has been enforced in 4 villages closer to Ambala airbase and gathering of people on roofs and photography during landing has been strictly prohibited.
Three Rafale fighter jets are single-seater and two are twin-seater. These beasts were flown by IAF pilots for seven hours with the help of the mid-air refuellers. It had a brief stopover at Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates. Though the distance between India and UAE is not big, the fighter jets had to maintain a certain speed to keep up with the refuellers.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the touchdown of Rafale jets in India marks the beginning of a new era in the country’s military history. “I would like to add, 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 tweeted, amid the border row with China in eastern Ladakh. (PTI)
Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets. (PTI)
The IAF has spent around Rs 400 crore to develop required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at Ambala and Hasimara airbase. (PTI)
Each jet was given a special water cannon salute at the strategically-located air base in the presence of top brass of the Indian Air Force including Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria who had played a key role as lead negotiator in procurement of the jets. (PTI)
While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala airbase, the second one will based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. (PTI)
The first Rafale jet was handed over to the IAF in October last year during a visit to France by the defence minister. (PTI)
Though the jets are being inducted into the IAF on Wednesday, there will be a formal ceremony in mid-August to welcome them into the force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top military brass of the country are expected to attend the event. (PTI)
They are here. The five fighter aircraft from the French Aerospace Company Dassault Aviation landed at the Ambala Air Base late on Wednesday (July 29) after completing a journey of 7000 km from France to an airbase in UAE. After a gap of almost two-plus decades the Indian Air Force (IAF) has got a Western fighter jet in its inventory. |READ MORE
The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. The IAF is also procuring new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets. (PTI)
The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. (PTI)
The delivery of all 36 aircraft will be completed on schedule by the end of 2021, it added. (PTI)
A government statement on Monday said 10 Rafale jets were delivered to India and that five of them are staying back in France for training missions. (PTI)
Describing the arrival of five Rafale fighter jets as a historic day for the Indian Air Force and a proud moment for India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said they are the world’s most powerful machines capable of thwarting any challenge in the sky. In a series of tweets, Shah also said the Modi government is committed to building on India’s defence capabilities and added that the world class fighter jets will prove to be a “game changer”. (PTI)
The fleet, comprising three single seater and two twin seater aircraft, are being inducted into the IAF as part of its Ambala-based No 17 Squadron, also known as the ‘Golden Arrows’. (PTI)
The IAF is also procuring new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets.
Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a precision-guided missile developed by French defence major Safran. The missile was originally designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy. (PTI)
The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets. (PTI)
Rafale touchdown is a historic day for our vigorous IAF and a proud moment for India! These are the world’s most powerful machines capable to thwart any challenge in the sky: Amit Shah
Last year on Oct 8, French Aerospace Company Dassault Aviation had formally handed over 1+3 `Rafale’ to the defence Minister Rajnath Singh at a ceremony in Paris. The date was considered to be auspicious as per the Indian calendar and it was also coinciding with the 87th birth anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Read More
Induction of these next generation aircrafts is a true testimony of PM Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India a powerful and secure nation. Modi govt is committed to build on India’s defence capabilities: Amit Shah on Twitter
A great day in history of Indian Air Force as first 5 Rafale fighters land at Ambala Airbase. Our government has bought total 36 Rafale from France. The remaining fighter aircrafts will also land in India as per the timetable: Prakash Javedkar
On Monday morning (July 27), the fighter aircraft had taken off from the Merignac air base in the French port city of Bordeaux and flying for almost seven hours nonstop with the help of the refuellers covered a distance of 7000 km and landed late evening at Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates. Read More
The Birds have landed safely in Ambala. The touch down of Rafale combat aircrafts in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircrafts will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF: Rajnath Singh RM
The Rafale jets were purchased only because PM Shri Narendra Modi took the right decision to get these aircrafts through an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France, after the long pending procurement case for them could not progress. I thank him for his courage & decisiveness. 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. The Rafale jets were purchased when they fully met the operational requirements of the IAF. The baseless allegations against this procurement have already been answered and settled. I would like to add, 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: RM Rajnath Singh tweets
We congratulate the Indian Air Force on receiving the Rafale jets. INC govt’s labour in identifying & purchasing Rafale in 2012 have finally borne fruit. The stark difference between the Congress & BJP deal reveal the BJP’s scam: INC Tweets
BJP leader and MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi: Subhagaman, Swagat Rafale. Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje tweeted: How’s the josh?
The first batch of Rafale fighter jets that took off from France on Monday lands at the Ambala airbase. (ANI)
This weapon, IAF is already familiar with as it is part of the French Mirage 2000 aircraft. This is the only missile in the world which comes with two interoperable seekers (active radar and imaging infrared). This will cover a wide spectrum — close-in dogfight to long beyond visual range. And it has the capability to fly out to BVR in passive mode before the seeker locks on in the final stages of the end game. That is why it is known as the `silent killer’. Why? Because the target will have hardly any time to react or deploy effective countermeasures.
Soon after taking off from the UAE, Indian #Rafale contingent established contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata, deployed in the Western Arabian Sea.
INS Kolkata Delta63: Arrow leader (flying #Rafale),welcome to Indian Ocean
Rafale leader: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding seas
INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings
Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over&out
The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets to arrive at Ambala airbase in Haryana tentatively at 2 pm today. (ANI)
IAF will also get the SCALP deep-strike cruise missile from MBDA. This stealthy weapon has proven time and again in combats its ability to strike deep inside hostile territory at the protected targets, that too without the Rafale entering the hostile air space. This is possible due to three operational key factors including high survivability due to its long stand-off range; low observability and sophisticated mission planning system; pinpoint terminal accuracy which is possible due to the highly accurate seeker and target recognition system and finally, the terminal effectiveness which is provided by the powerful tandem warhead and multiple detonation modes.
Rafale fighter jet will have the most famous Meteor beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile. This is widely recognised as a game-changer for any air combat. This missile is powered by a unique rocket-ramjet motor which will give more engine power and for much longer than any other missile. What does it mean? It means that this missile can not only fly faster but have the ability to manoeuvre more than any other missile. Thus, it gives the Meteor missile the ability to chase down and destroy agile hostile fighters at further ranges. This means Meteor has a no-escape zone, much greater than any other air to air missile.
IAF’s Number 17 Golden Arrows squadron has been resurrected in preparation for the induction of Rafale fighter aircrafts. The Golden Arrow squadron was raised in 1951. It has been involved in a number of air operations through including the Kargil War in late 90s.
Media vans and journalists from all over India are present in Ambala to cover the arrival of Rafale fighter jets from France. (ANI)