Future IAF bases for Rafales

Although it was earlier reported that the Indian Air Force would be basing a squadron of Rafales at Sarsawa airbase near Saharanpur, this seems unlikely in face of problems of land acquisition Issues. An additional 540 acres of land are needed in the vicinity of the air force station, which would have meant protracted negotiations with nearly 3,200 land owners, while land on the other side is used by the ARC, for its own operational purposes.

Following the contract for 36 Dassault Rafales (to equip two squadrons) in December 2016 in a direct government to government deal worth Rs 59,000 crore, the delivery of first aircraft, is planned for 2019. The IAF had initially planned to deploy one squadron at Sarsawa and the second squadron in Hasimara in the Dooars corridor in northern Bengal. While ideally both the squadrons should be co-located at the same airbase to facilitate training, maintenance and logistics issues, apparently the two squadrons are to be geographically dispersed for strategic reasons. ( In the picture above, taken at Yelahanka, Rafales are seen on the flight line along side Gripens).