India receives 3 more Rafale aircraft from France; total acquired 35 of 36 aircraft

New Delhi, Deb 23: Three more Rafale fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) reached India yesterday evening from France. The aircraft took off from a French airbase and were provided aerial refueling support by the UAE Air Force.

 

 

 

With the arrival of the latest 3 aircraft, India has now received a total of 35 of the 36 Rafales for which it had signed contract with France in September 2016. The final aircraft will arrive in India from France after a few weeks, according to government officials. IAF had ferried over 30 of these aircraft flying directly without any halts.

 

 

French defence minister Florence Parly had earlier said France was willing to provide more Rafale fighter jets to India, and the use of the same aircraft by the two strategic partners was a reflection of the “strength" in their ties.

 

 

Rafale joined the IAF last year in July-August and was soon operationalized. It should be noted, it also has been deployed for patrolling along the China front in eastern Ladakh and other fronts during the height of the China confrontation. In September 2016, India had signed a deal with France for the acquisition of 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets in a fly-away condition along with 13 India Specific Enhancements (ISE) under a €7.87 billion (Rs. 60,000 crore) Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA).

 

 

India-specific enhancements on the Rafales include a helmet-mounted sight, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with storage for 10 hours of data, infrared search and track systems, jammers, cold engine start capability to operate from high-altitude bases and towed decoys to ward off incoming missiles. The twin-engine jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions – ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike deterrence. It can carry almost 10 tonnes of weapons.