BOOST TO IAF AS 3 MORE RAFALES LAND IN INDIA

NEW DELHI: The third batch of three Rafale jets which took off from the Istres airbase in France on Wednesday landed in Jamnagar, officials familiar with the development said. “The third batch of three Rafale aircraft landed at an IAF base a short while ago. They flew over 7,000km with in-flight refuelling... IAF deeply appreciates the tanker support provided by UAE Air Force,” the IAF said in a tweet. The new jets will bolster the strength of the IAF’S only Rafale squadron, which is based in Ambala. This marks the third set of deliveries of the aircraft to the IAF. India ordered 36 warplanes from France (equivalent of two squadrons) in September 2016 for ₹59,000 crore under a government-to-government deal. With the new jets, the number of Rafales in the IAF’S inventory will increase to 11.

The second batch of the IAF’S three Rafale jets had reached the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat from France in early November before they flew to their homebase in Ambala. The first batch of five Rafale jets reached the Ambala airbase on July 29, although a formal induction ceremony took place later on September 10, 2020. The IAF has been operating the fighter jets in the Ladakh theatre where the military is on high alert amid the border row with China. The Rafales also took part in the Republic Day flypast for the first time. All the 36 planes are likely to join the IAF’S fighter fleet by the year-end. The second Rafale squadron will be based at Hasimara in West Bengal to strengthen the IAF’S capabilities in the eastern sector.