For a major boost in the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) firepower, three more French Rafale multi-combat fighter jets are expected to arrive in India on 5 November.
Five Rafale jets flew to Ambala airbase via Abu Dhabi on 29 July and have already joined Squadron 17 of the Indian Air Force. The next batch of three Rafale will reach Ambala directly from the Bordeaux-Marignak facility on 5 November.
Seven Rafale fighter jets are already being used for training IAF fighter pilots in France. On September 10, 5 Rafale jets were added to the IAF’s Ambala in the presence of French Defense Minister Florence Paley and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Under the 2016 agreement, India will get 36 Rafale jets from France under a deal of Rs 59000 crore.
In addition, the induction of 16 additional Rafale fighter jets by April next year will increase the strike capacity of the Indian Air Force. According to sources, 16 Omni-Bhoomika Rafale Jet fighters will be inducted into the Golden Arrow Squadron by April 2021.
Saffran, France’s largest jet engine maker, has said that it is ready to manufacture combat engines and subsidiaries in India, according to people familiar with the matter.
