Five Rafale fighter jets took off from France on Monday morning for induction into No. 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Ambala airbase upon arrival on July 29.
The immediate focus post arrival is on operationalisation of the aircraft at the earliest which has gained urgency with the ongoing tensions with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
“All five Rafales have landed safely in Al Dhafra airbase in United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a sortie in excess of seven hours,” the IAF said on Monday evening. The jets were accompanied by mid-air refuelling aircraft of the French Air Force on the first leg of the visit from Merignac airbase at Bordeaux in France to the UAE.
After a night halt in the UAE, the jets will take off on Tuesday to their home base in Ambala, covering a total distance of close to 7,000 km between India and France.
“These five include three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft. The aircraft are likely to arrive at Air Force Station, Ambala, on July 29 subject to weather,” the IAF said in a statement.
The Air Force had stated that the final induction ceremony would take place in the second half of August.
27/07/20 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu
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The immediate focus post arrival is on operationalisation of the aircraft at the earliest which has gained urgency with the ongoing tensions with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
“All five Rafales have landed safely in Al Dhafra airbase in United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a sortie in excess of seven hours,” the IAF said on Monday evening. The jets were accompanied by mid-air refuelling aircraft of the French Air Force on the first leg of the visit from Merignac airbase at Bordeaux in France to the UAE.
After a night halt in the UAE, the jets will take off on Tuesday to their home base in Ambala, covering a total distance of close to 7,000 km between India and France.
“These five include three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft. The aircraft are likely to arrive at Air Force Station, Ambala, on July 29 subject to weather,” the IAF said in a statement.
The Air Force had stated that the final induction ceremony would take place in the second half of August.
27/07/20 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu
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