In Pics: Five Rafale jets enters Indian airspace, flanked by 30 MKIs
New Delhi, July 29: The first batch of five Rafale combat jets on Wednesday entered the Indian air space on its way to Ambala airbase at around 2 PM today (29 July), established contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata situated in the Western Arabian Sea.
Specifications and performance data of Rafale fighter jets
Soon after entering the Indian airspace, the incoming Rafales jets exchanged greetings with the Indian Naval warship INS Kolkata situated in the Western Arabian Sea.
INS Kolkata Delta63: Arrow leader (flying #Rafale),welcome to Indian Ocean
— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2020
Rafale leader: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding seas
INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings
Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over&out https://t.co/WlEyiZTtg5
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweets first visuals of Rafalt fighter jets:
Five Rafale aircraft entering Indian airspace
The Defence Minister put out a tweet with "five Rafales escorted by 02 SU30 MKIs as they enter the Indian air space".
Five Rafale aircraft to land in Ambala at 2.45 pm
Chief of Air Staff RKS Bhadauria will be at the strategically key Ambala air base to receive the Rafale jets, India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in over two decades. A Rs 59,000-crore deal was signed on September 23, 2016 for 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation.
The Rafale is a twin-jet fighter aircraft able to operate from both an aircraft carrier and a shore base. The fully versatile Rafale is able to carry out all combat aviation missions: air superiority and air defense, close air support, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence.
Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004
The Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. With more than 30,000 flight hours in operations, the Rafale has proven its worth in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria.
Rafale twin-jet fighter aircraft
The aircraft is available in three main variants: Rafale C single-seat land-based version, Rafale B twin-seat land-based version, and Rafale M single-seat carrier-based version.