India to get second batch of Rafales in November
New Delhi, Oct 18: The Indian Air Force will get its second batch of three to four Rafale fighter jets in the first week of November. This will further bolster the Air Force amidst the tensions with China.
The IAF is expecting three Rafale jets to delivered every two months. All the planes are likely to join the IAF fleet by the end of the year. The team in France is headed by the assistant chief of air staff (projects). The team reached France earlier this week for a review of the project.
How Rafales will provide India an advantage in aerial combat over China
On September 10, five French-made multirole Rafale fighter jets were inducted into the Indian Air Force in a glittering ceremony at the Ambala air force base.
Using the occasion to send a strong message to China over the border row, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said induction of the jets was crucial considering the atmosphere being created along the frontier and that it is a "big and stern" message to those eyeing India's sovereignty.
Besides Singh, the nearly two-hour ceremony was attended by French Defence Minister Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and several top executives of major French defence firms involved in the Rafale deal.
A traditional 'sarva dharma puja', a ceremonial 'water cannon salute' to the Rafale jets and an aerial drill featuring various breathtaking manoeuvres by the aircraft marked their induction into the IAF's 'Golden Arrows' squadron at the Ambala Air Force station.
"The
induction
of
Rafale
jets
is
a
big
and
stern
message
for
the
entire
world,
especially
to
those
eyeing
our
sovereignty.
This
kind
of
induction
is
very
important
for
the
kind
of
atmosphere
that
has
been
created
on
our
borders,"
Singh
said
"We
understand
very
well
that
with
changing
times,
we
also
have
to
prepare
ourselves.
I
feel
proud
to
say
that
our
national
security
has
been
a
big
priority
of
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi,"
Singh
said