Multi-role aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF: Rajnath Singh
AMN / WEB DESK
The long wait is over, a fleet of five French-manufactured Rafale multi-role combat jets touched down in India on Wednesday, giving the country’s air power a strategic edge over its adversaries in the neighbourhood.
Rafale jets landed in Ambala Wednesday afternoon. It was a historic moment as they greeted with water cannon salute at Ambala Air Force base. They were escorted by two sukhoi MKI supersonic fighters as they entered Indian airspace.
After entering Indian Airspace, Indian Rafale contingent was welcomed by establishing radio contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata, deployed in the Western Arabian Sea.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the arrival of the first batch of five Rafale jets at the IAF Station in Ambala Wednesday
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the touch down of Rafale combat aircrafts in India marks the beginning of a new era in country’s Military History.
In a series of tweets, Mr Singh said, these multirole aircrafts will revolutionise the capabilities of the Indian Air Force. The Defence Minister congratulated the Indian Air Force on a professionally executed ferry.
He exprerssed confidence that 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, will continue to live upto their motto of “Udayam Ajasram”. Mr Singh expressed happiness that Indian Air Force’s combat capability has got a timely boost.
He said, the Rafale jets were purchased only because Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the right decision to get these aircrafts through an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France, after the long pending procurement case for them could not progress.
Mr Singh thanked him for his courage and decisiveness. He also thanked the French Government, Dassault Aviation and other French companies for ensuring the timely delivery of the aircraft and its weapons, despite the severe restrictions posed by COVID pandemic.
The Defence Minister said, this aircraft has very good flying performance and its weapons, radar and other sensors and Electronic Warfare capabilities are amongst the best in the world.
He said, its arrival in India will make the Indian Air Force much stronger to deter any threat that may be posed on our country. Mr Singh said, the Rafale jets were purchased when they fully met the operational requirements of the IAF.
He said, the baseless allegations against this procurement have already been answered and settled.
The Defence Minister added that if it is anyone who should be worried about or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity.
The fleet, comprising three single-seater and two twin- seater aircraft, will be inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala airbase in Haryana.
The fighter jets, built by French aviation firm Dassault, took off from the Merignac airbase in southern France’s Bordeaux on Monday.
The five aircraft are part of 36 planes bought by India from France in a 59,000-crore rupees inter-governmental deal in 2016.
The aircraft is covering a distance of nearly 7,000 kilometres from France to India with mid-air refuelling and a single stop at a French airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Indian Embassy in France in a statement said, delivery of ten aircraft has been completed on schedule but five will stay back in France for training Mission. The delivery of all thirty six aircraft will be completed on schedule by the end of next year.