Current affairs

India's 'new and potent bird': Five Rafale jets inducted into the Indian Air Force!

By alagu, 10 September, 2020
India, France, Indian Air Force, Rafale

The Indian Air Force is been equipped and advanced with the new and potent bird in its fleet amid the border tensions as the first batch of five Rafale fighter jets have been formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on Thursday in Ambala airbase, Haryana. 

The induction of fighter jets has become the strongest recruitment to the fleet which enhances the might and capability and further would strengthen the Indian skies in countering the immediate threat and adversaries from the neighbor and beyond. The Rafale jets, that are produced by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation, are known for air-superiority and precision strikes. 

These five fighter jets, which are the first batch of the dispatch, arrived in India on July 29, and the Indian government has planned for a great induction for the major acquisition. The Indian Air Force had conducted an induction ceremony in the Ambala Air force base in Haryana on Thursday during which these five jets were formally inducted to the fleet. 

 

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had attended the ceremony while the entire country watched the inducted through the visuals from the base. The jets were given traditional 'Sarva dharma puja' and a ceremonial water cannon salute and the jets had also displayed its features, techniques, and on-air capabilities to counter and defeat the foreign threats. 

 

These five fighter jets would be part of the 17 Squadron of the Indian Air Force and would be stationed at the Ambala Air force base. The ceremony was also attended by the French delegation including the French Envoy, Chief Executive of Dassault Aviation, and Vice Chief of French Air Force. According to ANI, Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly had held a bilateral meeting in Ambala following the induction ceremony.

Both leaders had discussed the ways to further deepen the bilateral defence and security co-operation. The induction has come four years after India has signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Of these 36, ten aircraft have been delivered to India while five have arrived in India as the first batch, five had stayed back in France for training purposes. 

According to the reports, these five jets would be arriving in India by November as the second batch of the induction. Out of 36 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. The first batch of the Rafale jets will be stationed in the Ambala Airbase and the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter jets in 23 years after Sukhoil jets that were imported from Russia. 

The Rafale jets are capable and equipped in carrying powerful weapons and these jets are more potent in air-superiority and precision strikes than the fighters jets that are in the fleets of Chinese and Pakistan armies, that are irking India in border violations and tensions between the forces. The induction has been seen significant amid prevailing border tensions with China as the neighbor has been causing border disputes in the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh for the past few months. 

 

During the ceremony, the Indian Air Force Chief said that the induction could not have happened at a more opportune time given the security challenges. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Our motive behind the strengthening of our defence has always been the desire for world peace. In this regard, we are committed not to take any such step which can disturb the peace. We expect the same from our neighbors and other countries around the world.  

Rajnath Singh said that the induction of Rafale assumes more significance in the current situation to secure the country's territory and the induction would be a game-changer for the Indian armed forces and added that the Rafale induction sends a stern message for those eyeing our sovereignty.

 

After the ceremony, the CEO of Dassault Aviation said, "If the Indian Air Force would like to acquire more Rafale aircraft, we will be happy to make a new proposal or make repeat order". According to the reports, these multi-role combat jets are capable of ground support, aerial reconnaissance, interception, in-depth strikes, and nuclear deterrence and it has the capability of carrying 9,500 kilograms and it can operate at the top speed of 2,223 kilometers per hour.  

 

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