Second IAF Rafale squadron

As earlier reported, the Indian Air Force’s second squadron to be equipped with the Dassault Rafale will be No.101 (‘Falcons of Chhamb’) at Hasimara in northern Bengal. The first Rafale squadron is steadily building up to unit establishment and the first of Rafales for No.101 squadron will arrive in the months ahead. According to Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Director General CAPS) “located in the crucial Siliguri corridor, the Hasimara air base will cover both central and eastern Tibet. The Rafale will augment and add a bigger punch along with the IAF’s Su-30 MKIs which are already based in the Brahmaputra valley”.

Seen above in flight test in France on 16 March 2021 is IAF Rafale (BS 014) with MICAs and Meteor AAMs (courtesy: Phoenix Aviation Photography/Vincent Vannier)