Rafale induction ceremony updates: The Indian Air Force (IAF) hosted a ceremony at the Ambala airbase to formally induct the first five Rafale fighter jets. Induction of these twin-engine modern fighters is being seen as a major boost to the IAF’s capabilities. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly and India’s top military brass attended the ceremony. This was the first induction of a new type of foreign-origin fighter jets by IAF since a batch of the Sukhois were delivered in the late 1990s. Rafale is a multi-role combat aircraft, which means, it can be deployed in various scenarios such as carrying out combat missions to achieve air superiority, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence. Catch the updates here:
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The bird has arrived | 5 Rafales formally inducted into IAF's fleet of fighter jets
The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets has been formally inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala airbase.... Read More
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | JUST IN:
The Rafale aircraft have been formally inducted into the Indian Air Force by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces:
We will ensure timely delivery of remaining 31 Rafales. Our partnership will be even more crucial in the post-COVID world.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces:
Trust me, I know the Rafale is a powerful military aircraft as France uses it to protect its people.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces:
We are fully committed to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It takes a lot of confidence for India to depend on France and it takes a confidence for France to share the technology that is so important to our sovereignty.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces:
Today is a stellar achievement for both our countries. We are writing a new chapter in India-France defence ties. The name ‘Rafale’ symbolises “incredible strength”. It also symbolises our ties.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh:
The induction of Rafale into the IAF also represents the strong ties between India and France. The strategic ties between our two countries have also strengthened.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh:
I am confident that induction of Rafales will revolutionise the Indian Air Force’s capabilities. With changing times, we need to stay prepared. National security remains a priority for this government.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India’s Rafale deal with France is a “game changer”.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria:
I have no doubt that the ‘Golden Arrows’ (17 Squadron) can dominate whenever and wherever deployed.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said, “This ceremony also marks the operational induction of this aircraft into the Indian Air Force.”
Bhadauria thanked the French Air Force for itssupport during the delivery of the aircraft in July.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria:
This is a new chapter for IAF. This induction could not have happened at a more opportune time considering the security situation today.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
IAF’s Sarang helicopter display team is performing aerobatic manoeuvres.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Rafale fighter jet has been given a traditional water canon salute at the Ambala airbase.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
One of IAF’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) has also joined the ceremony and is carrying out aerobatic manoeuvres over the Ambala airbase.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
One of the Rafales has performed a ‘Vertical Charlie’ -- an aerobatic maneuver -- at the Ambala airbase to mark its formal induction.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
One of the Rafales has performed a low flypast followed by a minimum radius turnto display the aircraft’s manoeuvrability.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
One of IAF’s new Rafales, two Jaguars and two Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs have performed a flypast in the ‘arrow’ formation.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly and other officials will be witnessing a flypast of the new Rafale jet at the Ambala airbase, as part of the formal induction process.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
A ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’ is being held to mark the Rafale’s induction into the IAF.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly havearrived at the Ambala airbase. The ceremony is expected to begin shortly.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
In February, former Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had said that the outcome would have been different had Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman been flying a Rafale instead of a MiG 21 Bison during the India-Pakistan stand-off in the aftermath of the Balakot strike in 2019. Dhanoa was responding to a question about controversies slowing down defence acquisitions.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Rafale's capabilities:
The IAF has also reportedly sought emergency procurement of the HAMMER air-to-ground missile which has a range of about 60 kilometres.
The air force could eventually integrate more missiles with the Rafales, which is often categorised as a 4.5 generation aircraft for its radar-evading stealth profile.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Rafale's capabilities:
Rafale is a multi-role combat aircraft. This means it can be deployed in various scenarios such as carrying out combat missions to achieve air superiority, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence.
They will not have to fly beyond the Indian airspace to hit targets that are even 600 kilometres inside enemy territory. To put that into perspective, a Rafale can hit targets deep inside Pakistani territory while still flying over Ambala.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE | Rafale's capabilities:
Some of the missiles that Rafales will be equipped with hadarrived at the Ambala airbase even before these jets arrived. These include the Meteor air-to-air missile.
The jets will also be equipped with the 1,300-kilogram SCALP missiles. SCALPs have a range of around 300 kilometres.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
While the first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala airbase, the second one will be based at Hasimara, West Bengal. The new fleet will be part of the 17 Squadron of the IAF which was resurrected on September 10, 2019.
The squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on October 1, 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Out of 36 Rafale 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.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.
The second batch of four-five Rafales is likely to arrive in India by November.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
While the first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore, these jets are yet to be formally inducted into the IAF.
These aircraft have been produced by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation.
Rafale induction ceremony LIVE |
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly and India’s top military brass will attend the ceremony at the Ambala airbase to formally induct the first five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
These jets had arrived in India in the last week of July, amid escalating tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Hello and welcome to Moneycontrol’s LIVE coverage of the induction ceremony for the Rafale aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The ceremony will be held at the Ambala airbase today.
