Five Rafale Fighter Jets to be Inducted into Indian Air Force on July 29

The first batch of five Dassault Rafale figher jets is likely to arrive in India from France by end July 2020

 The aircraft will be inducted at Indian Air Force (IAF) Station Ambala on 29 July subject to weather. No media coverage is planned on arrival. The final induction ceremony will take place in second half of August 20 wherein full media coverage would be planned, an Indian MoD statement said today.

IAF aircrew and ground crew have undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft, including its highly advanced weapons systems and are fully operational now. Post arrival, efforts will focus on making the aircraft operational at the earliest.

The aircraft are part of a 36 aircraft deal which India has signed with Dassault Aviation, France. The deal includes weapons such as Scalp and Meteor missiles. As part of the deal Dassualt will set up depot-level maintenance.

The aircraft are expect to bolster the IAF’s capabilities in the Northern and Western Borders.