Official! IAF set to raise second squadron of Rafale in WB's Hasimara airbase

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to raise a second squadron of the Rafale combat aircraft in mid-April and it will be based in Hasimara airbase in West Bengal, France confirmed. The first squadron of the Rafale jets is stationed at Ambala Air Force station.

 

 

It should be noted that a squadron comprises around 18 aircraft. Confirming the news, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India said, "Very proud that, despite the pandemic’s challenges, #Rafale jet delivery is fully on schedule, enabling @IAF_MCC to raise 2nd squadron in #Hasimara. It's also thanks to talented Indian pilots, trained ahead in France, quickly mastering this omnirole aircraft."

 

 

 

In February, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said in Rajya Sabha that India will have 17 Rafale jets by March and the entire batch of the French-origin fighter aircraft bought by the country will reach by April 2022. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.

 

Earlier, the first batch of five Rafales flew into India on July 28 and was officially inducted on September 10. With the induction of these aircraft, the IAF would have eight fighter aircraft which will be operationalised within a few days. The Rafale fighters have already been operationalised and have also been deployed in the conflict zone of Ladakh in the short duration of time they have been with the Air Force.

 

 

Besides, the second batch of Rafale fighter jets reached India in November 2020 after flying non-stop from France. The third batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in India this year in January, after flying non-stop from France. The jets had flew over 7000 km with in-flight refuelling. With the arrival of the new batch, the number of Rafale aircraft has increased to 11.

 

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.