Three More Rafale Fighter Jets Arriving Tonight, Stage Set for Raising 2nd Squadron
The arrival of three new jets will allow IAF to begin raising its second Rafale squadron at Hasimara in West Bengal. First one was raised in Ambala.
Editorial Staff
Three More Rafale Fighter Jets Arriving Tonight, Stage Set for Raising 2nd Squadron
Three Rafale jets took off from the Bordeaux–Mérignac airbase in France on Wednesday and will reach India tonight, taking the total number of Rafales in the Indian Air Force inventory to 21 and setting the stage for raising the second squadron of the fighters in the country’s eastern sector, officials familiar with the development said. “Next batch of three #Rafales leave from France to India today; wished the pilots smooth flight and safe landing,” the Indian embassy in France said on Twitter. This is the sixth ferry of Rafale jets from France to India IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria last month flagged off four Rafale fighter jets from France to India. Bhadauria was in France on a five-day official visit in April. India ordered 36 warplanes from France (the equivalent of two squadrons) in September 2016 for ₹59,000 crores under a government-to-government deal. The arrival of three new jets will allow the IAF to begin raising its second Rafafe squadron at Hasimara in West Benga…
