IAF chief RKS Bhadauria leaves for France; likely to flag off Rafale jets from French airbase

New Delhi, April 19: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria has on Monday left for France on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with several senior French military officials and take stock of production and delivery timelines of some of the remaining Rafale jets.

 

 

 

"Marking the continuity of growing bilateral defence cooperation with the French Air and Space Force, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of the Air Staff left for France today on an official visit," the IAF said.

 

 

Further, it added, "The visit of Chief of the Air Staff from 19-23 April will enhance potential avenues for strengthening the level of interaction between the two Air Forces. He'll hold meetings & discussions with senior military leadership of France & visit operational facilities & airbases."

 

 

According to the reports, there is a possibility of Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria flagging off a batch of five-six Rafale jets from the Merignac airbase in the French port city of Bordeaux for India.

 

It should be noted that Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale jets, was scheduled to send six Rafale aircraft to India by the end of April. As reported earlier, the arrival of the new batch of the Rafale aircraft will pave the way for the IAF to raise a second squadron of the Rafale jets. The new squadron will be based in Hasimara airbase in West Bengal.

 

 

The first Rafale squadron is based in Ambala air force station that comprises around 18 aircraft. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore. Dassault Aviation has delivered 14 jets to the Indian Air Force so far. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29 last.