New Delhi: There has been a huge increase in the strength of the Indian Air Force, as three more Rafale Fighter Plane aircraft from France have reached home. Three new Rafale aircraft have arrived in India flying non-stop from France. These Rafale aircraft continued to fly for a distance of 7 thousand kilometers and fueled the air in the middle. These planes flew from France’s Istre Air Base. The UAE provided these aircraft with air-fuel by MRTT. In this regard, the ANI was quoted by the Indian Embassy in France. The Indian Air Force has thanked the UAE for providing tanker support to Rafale planes in the middle. This batch of Rafale aircraft is the third set of delivery of Rafale aircraft purchased from France. Indian Air Force bought 36 Rafale aircraft from France in September 2016 for 59 thousand crores. After the arrival of three new aircraft, India will have 11 Rafale aircraft.
The second set of 3 Rafale planes reached Jamnagar in Gujarat in early November, after which they reached their home base Ambala. The first set of five Rafale aircraft reached Ambala airbase on 29 July. These five aircraft were later formally inducted into the Indian Air Force, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also participated in the program. The defense minister was accompanied by French Defense Minister Florence, Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat, and Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria.
Rafael aircraft are the first jet aircraft to be inducted into the Indian Air Force after 23 years after the Russian-made Sukhoi-30 MKI joined the army in June 1997. These Rafale aircraft have been purchased from France. Rafale is a two-engine medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French company Dassault Aviation. Rafale fighter jets have been kept as ‘Omnirol’ planes, which are capable of playing an important role in the war. Rafael aircraft can do all these tasks – such as air supremacy, air raid, ground support, heavy attack and nuclear deterrence.
Rafale was not India’s only option. Many international aircraft manufacturers offered from the Indian Air Force. Later six big airline companies were shortlisted. These included Lockhead Martin’s F-16, Boeing F / A-18S, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russia’s MiG-35, Saab’s Gripen and Rafale from Sweden. The Indian Air Force shortlisted the Eurofighter and Rafael on the basis of testing and pricing of all the aircraft. Dallas won the contract to provide 126 fighters, as it was the cheapest available. It was said that its maintenance is also easy.
In April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris. Then it was decided to buy 36 Rafale. Later, the NDA government signed the deal in the year 2016. When French President Francois Hollande visited India in January, a $ 7.8 billion deal for the purchase of Rafale jets was signed.
