CEREMONIAL INDUCTION

CEREMONIAL INDUCTION OF Rindia AFALE AIRCRAFT IN THE

INDIAN AIR FORCE BOOSTING DEFENCE BI-LATERAL COOPERATION BETWEEN INDIA AND FRANCE

The formal induction ceremony of the Rafale ghter jets began with a traditional 'Sarva Dharm puja' at the Ambala Air Force Station . The Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh and the Minister of the Armed Forces of France,Ms. Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria were present with Priests of many faiths to Bless the Jets.

Praying for the security of the nation and the success of the Rafale jets, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh & Christian priests narrated short prayers to bless the new jets

The ve Rafale jets, three single-seat and two twinseater trainers landed at the Ambala airbase on July 29 nearly four years after India signed an intergovernmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.

The Government of India set on the Rafale jets due to its air superiority advantages and technical benets for the Indian Air Force operations. The Rafale jet is tted with 14 hard-points and 13 India-specic enhancements. Its total external load capacity is more than 9 tonnes. Hence, it can lift the equivalent of its own empty weight in payloads. Its loitering capacity is 1.5 times that of the Sukhoi. The range is 780 to 1055 km as against 400-550 km of a Sukhoi jet. Similarly, the Rafale jet can engage in 5 sorties per 24 hours against 3 by the Sukhoi.

Moreover, the Rafale is powered by two SNECMA M88 engines, which helps it attain a range of more than 3,700 km. Having a top speed of 2223 km, it is equipped with laser-guided bombs weighing 900 kg. 2500 rounds per minute can be red from its internal cannon. Rafale considered as a 4.5 generation aircraft will now lead the IAF's ghter jets. Also, Rafale maintenance time per ight hour is 2.25 hours against 6-8 hrs for other ghters. Speaking about the Rafale, IAF chief Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria had backed the Rafale against China's untested F-35 knockoff J-20. From Speed To Weapon Capabilities Of India’s Rafale Fighter Jets When all the 36 Rafale jets are delivered by 2022, India will have 32 squadrons, still well below the 42 squadrons of the sanctioned strength. The ve Rafale ghter jets that landed in Ambala will resurrect the Number 17 Golden Arrows squadron of the Indian Air Force. It will take the IAF’s squadron strength to 31. The state-of-the-art 4.5 Generation Rafale jet can reach almost double the speed of sound, with a top speed of 1.8 Mach. With its multi-role capabilities, including electronic warfare, air defence, ground support and in-depth strikes, the Rafale lends air superiority to the Indian Air Force.

While China’s J20 Chengdu jets are called fth generation combat jets, compared to 4.5 generation Rafale, the J20 have no actual combat experience. Whereas the Rafale is combat proven, having been used by the French Air Force for its missions in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali. It has also been used for missions in Central African Republic, Iraq and Syria. Rafale can also carry more fuel and weapons than the J20. Each aircraft has 14 storage stations for weapons. The jets come with one of the most advanced Meteor air-to-air missiles. The 190-kg missile has a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) of over 100 km, traveling at a top speed of Mach 4. The F16 jets, used by Pakistan, carry the AMRAAM missile, which has a BVR of 75 km. Rafale can also outperform F16 in dogghts. The Rafale jets also come with SCALP, the air-toground cruise missile with a range over 300 km. It is a long-range deep strike missile. The MICA air-to-air missile on Rafale is for both, closequarter dogghts, and for BVR. At the last-minute, India has also asked for HAMMER (Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range), which is an air-to-ground precision guided missile produced by French conglomerate Safran, and can be used against bunker-type hardened targets within the range of 70 km. Speaking at the ceremony, the Defence Minister

Rajnath Singh said that the induction of the ve Rafale Rajnath Singh said that the induction of the ve Rafale ghter jets are important given the kind of situation ghter jets are important given the kind of situation that that has has been been created created on on the the country’s country’s borders borders in in recent recent days. days. The The induction induction of of Rafale Rafale into into IAF IAF also also represents the strong ties between India and France. represents the strong ties between India and France. The strategic ties between the two countries have also The strategic ties between the two countries have also strengthened. strengthened.

Mid Air Refuelling Being Carried Out By Rafales On Their Journey Back Home. Mid Air Refuelling Being Carried Out By Rafales On Their Journey Back Home.

The jets entered Indian airspace on Wednesday afternoon.The jets entered Indian airspace on Wednesday afternoon.

The ceremony at Ambala Air Force Station included a The ceremony at Ambala Air Force Station included a ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’ , Air Display by Rafale and Tejas ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’ , Air Display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as by ‘Sarang Aerobatic Team’ . It was aircraft as well as by ‘Sarang Aerobatic Team’ . It was followed by the traditional water cannon salute for the followed by the traditional water cannon salute for the ghterghter jets.jets. TheThe proceedingsproceedings culminatedculminated the the ceremonial induction of Rafale to Golden Arrows.ceremonial induction of Rafale to Golden Arrows.

It was a new chapter in India-France defence ties It was a new chapter in India-France defence ties and and is an achievement for both the countries. They are fully is an achievement for both the countries. They are fully committed to 'Make in India' initiative as well as to the committed to 'Make in India' initiative as well as to the further integration of the Indian manufacturers in the further integration of the Indian manufacturers in the global supply chain said Minister of the Armed Forces global supply chain said Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly.of France Florence Parly.

Rafale Rafale jets jets travelled travelled almost almost 7,000-km 7,000-km journey journey from from France to reach at Air Force Station Ambala.The rst France to reach at Air Force Station Ambala.The rst batch includes ve aircraft, being own by Indian Air batch includes ve aircraft, being own by Indian Air Force pilots. They took off from the Merignac airbase Force pilots. They took off from the Merignac airbase near Bordeaux in France.near Bordeaux in France.

Ten aircraft have been delivered on schedule, as per a Ten aircraft have been delivered on schedule, as per a statement by the Indian Embassy in France. Of these statement by the Indian Embassy in France. Of these ten, ve reached India, while the other ve will remain ten, ve reached India, while the other ve will remain in France for training missions. The distance covered in France for training missions. The distance covered by them is close to 7,000 kms, and will require air-to-by them is close to 7,000 kms, and will require air-toair refuelling. While the distance can be covered within air refuelling. While the distance can be covered within a day as well, with the refuelling, it planned that the a day as well, with the refuelling, it planned that the jets made a stop in United Arab Emirates. They took to jets made a stop in United Arab Emirates. They took to the Al Dhafra French air base near Abu Dabhi and took the Al Dhafra French air base near Abu Dabhi and took off from there for Ambala.off from there for Ambala.

The jets India has bought are a mix of single-seater and The jets India has bought are a mix of single-seater and two-seater planes. The jets that reached India are also a two-seater planes. The jets that reached India are also a mix mix of of both.Interestingly, both.Interestingly, the the twin-seater twin-seater air air planes planes have the current Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS have the current Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria’s initials, “RB” , as he played a signicant Bhadauria’s initials, “RB” , as he played a signicant role in negotiating the deal.The single-seater aircraft role in negotiating the deal.The single-seater aircraft have the initials of the last chief of Air Force, retired Air have the initials of the last chief of Air Force, retired Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa.Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa.

The The IAF IAF aircrew aircrew and and ground ground crew crew have have undergone undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft, including its comprehensive training on the aircraft, including its highly highly advanced advanced weapons weapons systems, systems, which which are are fully fully operational operational now. now. Post Post arrival, arrival, efforts efforts will will focus focus on on operationalization of the aircraft at the earliest, IAF had operationalization of the aircraft at the earliest, IAF had stated.The immediate focus will be to ensure that the stated.The immediate focus will be to ensure that the pilots pilots and and ground ground crew crew put put their their heads heads down down and and become integrated with the overall IAF operations at the become integrated with the overall IAF operations at the earliest. earliest. Further, Further, it it is is important important that that the the ferry-in ferry-in of of ghters as well as move of support crew is completed ghters as well as move of support crew is completed safely and swiftly.safely and swiftly.

The The rst rst jets jets will will comprise comprise the the resurrected resurrected No No 17 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron of the Air Force, and will be ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron of the Air Force, and will be stationed in Ambala. The Golden Arrows were raised in stationed in Ambala. The Golden Arrows were raised in 1951 and have been involved in a number of signicant 1951 and have been involved in a number of signicant operations through their history, including the Kargil operations through their history, including the Kargil War. But after the Air Force started to phase out the War. But after the Air Force started to phase out the Mig-21, which were operated by the Golden Arrows, the Mig-21, which were operated by the Golden Arrows, the squadronsquadron waswas disbandeddisbanded inin 2016.It2016.It hashas been been resurrected resurrected now now for for the the multi-role, multi-role, state-of-the-art state-of-the-art Rafale.Rafale.

The Army is preparing for extra provisions for additional The Army is preparing for extra provisions for additional troops troops who who have have been been moved moved to to the the LAC LAC amid amid the the standoff with the Chinese. Three extra Army divisions standoff with the Chinese. Three extra Army divisions having moved to the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh to having moved to the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh to mirror mirror the the Chinese Chinese build-up, build-up, the the Army Army has has started started preparing for extra provisions for the additional troops preparing for extra provisions for the additional troops who who will will remain remain deployed deployed through through the the winter. winter. The The eastern Ladakh region is a high-altitude desert, where eastern Ladakh region is a high-altitude desert, where temperatures can drop to -20°C. temperatures can drop to -20°C.

India is ready for any exigencies that could arise with India is ready for any exigencies that could arise with China at the LAC and the presence of Rafale jets now China at the LAC and the presence of Rafale jets now with with No 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron , the strength has No 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ squadron , the strength has doubled to have air superiority to any illegal advances doubled to have air superiority to any illegal advances by the Chinese troops who have tried to create a web by the Chinese troops who have tried to create a web ,where ,where India India is is ready ready both both by by the the Army Army troops troops on on ground and Air Force with Rafale jets to challenge the ground and Air Force with Rafale jets to challenge the Chinese misconduct of expansionism . Chinese misconduct of expansionism .