Rafale jets

Three more rafale fighter jets arrived in India, confirmed Indian Government on February 23. The fighter jets from France, landed in India on February 22 evening. With this, the deal of 36 fighter jets worth Rs 60,000 crore is close to being completed. Notably, only one aircraft of the 36 is now left to be inducted in the Indian Air Force, which is expected to land in India by March-April. 

India will receive the remaining six Rafale fighter jets in April 2022, said Emmanuel Lenain, French Ambassador. "As per the contract, it'll be done on time. COVID hasn't disrupted anything even if factories and many companies were closed for a few weeks," added Lenain. So far 30 rafale jets have arrived in India, with which the Air Force will begin upgrading its fleet from January 2022.

India will receive a total of 35 Omni-role Rafale fighter jets by the end of 2021 while the last jet will arrive in early 2022 and will be based in Hasimara airbase in north West Bengal. India has already has received 26 Rafale jets with 24 being landed in the country while two jets are kept in France for the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot and technician training.

The second squadron of Rafale will be set up in West Bengal by Indian Air Force in April 2021. Reportedly, they will be inducted at the Hasimara Air Force Base of Alipurduar district. Earlier, the first squadron of five jets was inducted on September 10, 2020, with pilots belonging to the 'Golden Arrows' squadron based in Ambala Air Force Station. Notably, India will receive 36 Rafale built by Dassault Aviation.

Indian Air Force on January 18 stated the flypast of Republic Day parade would feature the newly-inducted fighter aircraft Rafale. The IAF Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said, “The flypast will culminate with a single Rafale aircraft carrying out a ‘Vertical Charlie’ formation." In the aerobatic exercise, the aircraft pulls up vertically and rolls down until reaches normal height. Reportedly, IAF’s 38 aircraft and Indian's Army's four planes… read-more