New Delhi: The strength of the Indian Air Force is going to increase, as 10 new Rafale fighter aircraft are going to be included in that fleet. Even before, the Air Force has 11 Rafale. With the arrival of these aircraft, the number of Rafale in the fleet of Indian Air Force will be 21. Of these, 11 aircraft are already flying in Ambala-based 17 Squadron.
“Three Rafale fighter jets are scheduled to arrive in India in the next two to three days which will fly directly from France,” senior government sources told a news agency. With midair refueling by a friendly air force. After this, in the second half of next month, about 7-8 aircraft of these fighters and their trainer version will come. It will fulfill our mission and boost our capacity further. “
The aircraft began joining the Air Force fleet in the July – August time frame last year and was quickly operated by the Air Force in the shortest time possible. The aircraft was also deployed to patrol fronts and in eastern Ladakh during the conflict with China.
He said that the aircraft would be stationed at Ambala after arriving from France and some of them would later be sent to Hashimara, where the process of starting a second squadron has already started.
India ordered 36 fighter jets to France in September 2016 and by the end of April, more than 50 percent of these fighter aircraft have arrived in India. India is now ordering 114 multirole fighter jets with indigenously developed aircraft. Stealth Fighters Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, whose seven squadrons will join the Air Force over the next 15–20 years.
The second fleet of Rafale fighter jets reached India in November, after the aircraft were formally signaled in September. The double-engined Rafale jets are capable of a variety of mission ground and sea attacks, air defense and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike detection.
The long-range air-to-air missiles have increased the strength of Indian aircraft for their Chinese and Pakistani rivals. Aircraft equipped with Hammer missiles have enhanced air-to-ground capability, like Balakot.
(With agency inputs)