IAF to formally induct Rafale Jet on Sept 10; Rajnath Singh, French Def Min to be present

In a major boost for Indian Air Force, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will formally unveil India's new Rafale fighter jets in Ambala on September 10.  first batch of five of 36 combat aircraft arrived at Ambala Air Force Station on July 29, while  second batch of Rafale fighter jets from France is expected to arrive in India in October.

It may also be ted that Minister of Armed Forces of France Mrs Florence Parly will be Chief Guest for event. aircraft will be part of 17 Squron, 'Golden Arrows'. According to sources, induction ceremony will take place in presence of Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and entire top military brass of country.

first five Rafale jets have been engd in practising night flying in terrains of Himachal Presh. With highly efficient air-to-air missiles and SCALP air-to-ground standoff weapons, IAF squron is rey to be inducted in service. 

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All about Rafale Jet

5 Rafale fighters are fully operational, with first 18 jets to be stationed in Ambala and next 18 fighters to be based in Hashimara airbase near Bhutan border once complement is completed. Rafales are equipped with programmable signal processors (PSP) and hold capacity to change signal frequencies in times of conflict.

Rafale jet will be able to use terrain in Tibet to its vant, destroy enemy air defence and incapacitate surface-to-air missiles, former IAF Chief BS Dhaa h said as quoted by PTI. In case of beyond visual range combat, Rafale is superior to China's much-touted but untested J-20 jet, he said ding that Rafales will play a key role in Tibet for information dominance.

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 fired from its internal cann.  Rafale considered as a 4.5 generation aircraft will w le IAF's fighter jets. Also, Rafale maintenance time per flight hour is 2.25 hours against 6-8 hrs for or fighters.  

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