Five Rafale jets built by Dassault Aviation took flight from France for India on July 27 as part of the two countries' 36 fighter jet deal that was signed by the two countries in September 2016.
The twin-engine fighter jets took off from Dassault Aviation’s facility in Merignac, France.
The fighter jets will be refuelled on the way by a French Air Force tanker aircraft and take a stopover at UAE Al Dhafra airbase after which India will receive them on July 29.
The jets will join the Indian Air Force fleet at the Ambala airbase in Haryana.
The Indian government had inked a direct deal with the French government to purchase 36 new Rafale fighter jets for 7.87 billion euros.
The fleet is expected to significantly boost the IAF's combat capabilities at a time when India is locked in a tense border row with China in eastern Ladakh.
Indian Ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf interacted with IAF pilots before they took off from France.
As many as 12 IAF pilots and support crew have been fully trained for the aircraft so far. More personnel are being trained, reports suggest.
On October 8, 2019, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had officially received IAF’s first Rafale in France.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Singh said that Rafale aircraft would add to the strength of the IAF.
All 36 jets were expected to arrive in India by September 2022, for which the IAF has been reportedly undertaking preparations, including readying required infrastructure. However, this could be delayed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
How does the Rafale help the Indian armed forces?
The Rafale weapons package outguns all other weapons systems in the region giving India the ability to note enemy jets from a distance without being tracked.
Here's a video of the jets flying off from France towards India:
The air-to-ground SCALP missile will be able to take down virtually any target with dead accuracy. It also has a range of much over 300 km, giving it the ability to take out targets with extreme accuracy. The Indian jets would not have to cross the Line of Actual Control and conduct strikes from within their own airspace.
The manufacturer describes it as a fully versatile aircraft that can carry out all combat aviation missions to achieve air superiority and air defence, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence.
The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.
Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.
The Meteor is powered by a unique rocket-ramjet motor that gives it far more engine power for much longer than any other missile, said an official.
Besides the missile systems, the Rafale jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low-band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems, among others.
The fighter jet deal, that has had its share of controversies, ballooned to become a 2019 general election campaign flashpoint between the government and the opposition-led by Congress.
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