Rafale jets conduct exercise in strategic Indian Ocean region
An Indian Air Force strike force of four Rafale fighter jets took off from the Hasimara airbase in West Bengal, outmanoeuvred a “large engagement force” of hostile warplanes, and carried out a precision strike against a “high value” target in the strategic Indian Ocean region (IOR) in an exercise that showcased the air force’s capability to “strike far and strike hard,” officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday. To be sure, no weapons were actually fired in the exercise.
The development comes at a time when China is pushing for greater influence in the far seas and its warships are increasingly foraying into the IOR.
The long-range mission lasted six hours and involved mid-air refuelling of the Frenchorigin Rafales that have significantly boosted capabilities of the IAF, the officials said. India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a government-to-government deal worth ₹59,000 crore in September 2016. The IAF’s two Rafale squadrons are based at Hasimara and Ambala. The exercise was carried out a few days ago, but IAF shared the first details of the long-distance simulated strike on Wednesday. In a tweet that was both clever and funny.
“#IAF stretching its legs. Four IAF Rafales flew a long-range mission for over six hours into the IOR. The aircraft “fought” their way through a large force
engagement en route to their Weapon Release Point. Pickle on time, weapon on target-the IAF way!” This is not the first time the Indian military has used Twitter to send a cheeky message to project power far from the country’s shores. The Indian Navy did so in April 2018 when it spotted a Chinese naval task force in the IOR. In two tweets, it sent a subtle but powerful message to the Chinese navy: You are being watched in the IOR.
The Rafale fighter planes have sharpened the capabilities of the air force with their advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior radar for detection and tracking of targets, and the ability to carry an impressive payload. The Rafale weaponry includes Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, Mica multi-mission air-to-air missiles, Hammer smart weapon, Scalp deepstrike cruise missiles --- weapons that allow fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets
from standoff ranges.
IAF has been training regularly for long-range deep strikes using fighter planes, mid-air refuellers and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. “The latest drill showcases the IAF’s capabilities to strike targets anywhere in the IOR, from Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait,” Chopra added.
The India-specific enhancements on the Rafale jets include cold engine start capability to operate from high-altitude bases such as Leh, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with storage for 10 hours of data, infrared search and track systems, jammers and towed decoys to ward off incoming missiles.
The twin-engine jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions including ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance, and nuclear strike deterrence.