NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 29
In historic moments for the Indian Air Force, the first batch of five Rafale combat jets on Wednesday landed at Ambala airbase from France, officials said.
Welcome home 'Golden Arrows'. Blue skies always.
The Arrow formation (Rafales) was given ceremonial welcome by SU-30s.#IndianAirForce #RafaleInIndia #Rafale pic.twitter.com/RP0wITfTPZ
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 29, 2020
The fleet landed at Al Dhafra airbase on Monday in the UAE after flying for over seven hours from the Merignac airbase. It was the only stopover by the jets while flying from France to India.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s office said the Rafales are escorted by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs after they entered the Indian air space.
The jets were also refulled mid-air from a French tanker at a height of 30,000 feet.
#RafaleInIndia Welcome Home. In true #IndianAirForce traditions , in vic formation with Su30s in Indian air space pic: @SpokespersonMoD @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/Deo8ppcfS3
— PRO Defence Kolkata (@ProDefKolkata) July 29, 2020
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria received the fleet at Ambala.
The Rafale jets are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in over two decades, and they are expected to significantly boost the Indian Air Force’s combat capabilities.
