5 Rafale Jets From France to Reach India
The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets, part of Rs 59,000 crore deal, are expected to land in India soon.
India has bought 36 fighter planes from France in a Rs 59,000-crore inter-governmental deal in 2016. The fighter jets are built by French aviation company Dassault. The first batch of five Rafale jets flew from Merignac airbase in France's Bordeaux on Monday on 27th July and will reach India on Wednesday 29th July. They will be inducted in the Indian Air Force fleet at Ambala, Haryana. The Rafale aircraft will be flown by 12 Indian pilots who are fully trained and will cover a distance of around 7,000 km from France to India. It will have air to air refueling and a single stop at a French airbase in UAE.The Indian embassy in France in a statement said, "Delivery of ten aircraft is completed on schedule. Five will be kept back in France for training. The delivery of all thirty six aircraft will be completed on schedule by the end of 2021." The 5 jets were kept in France as part of a training programme for Indian Air Force pilots and technicians. The Rafale fighter jets can carry a range of highly effective weapons including various types of high tech missiles. Last month Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with the French Defence Minister Florence Parly. Florence Parly had confirmed that there is a coronavirus pandemic, but still the delivery of the first batch of planes would take place as scheduled.
