Here are the 13 India-specific weapon enhancements of IAF's Rafale

Boosting Indian Air Force, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday has received first aircraft out of 36 Rafale jets at Merignac airbase in France. While new dition will give a decisive edge to India's Defence system, se Rafale jets are also custom-me according to Indian requirements. re are 13 specific enhancements me to Rafale jet, which are unique to India, putting country in its own league. Defence Minister, after performing a Shastra Puja, undertook a sortie in first Rafale jet.

RE | Rajnath Singh flies 35-minute sortie in India's first Rafale jet

Here are 13 India-specific enhancements to Rafale jets:

• Rio Altimeter height measurement from 10,000 feet to 15,000 feet
• Rar Warning receiver (RWR) frequency band from 2.5 -18 GHzto 10 18 GHz
• Low Band Jammer (LBJ) pod with frequency band of 1- 4.5 gHz
• Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recording time from 10 hours data to 16 hours data plus two hours of audio
• High altitude engine start-up to 12,000 feet
• n Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) mode in Rar
• Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS) and Syntic Aperture Rar (SAR) modes in Rar
• Ground Moving Target Indicator and Ground Moving Target Track (GMTI/T) modes in Rar
• Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST)
• Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)
• Training Mode in Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)
• Towed DecoysVery High Frequency Omni Range (VOR)

WATCH |Rajnath Singh narrates 'unforgettable' supersonic sortie in Rafale jet

Rajnath Singh undertakes sortie in IAF's first Rafale jet

Earlier in day, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday undertook a sortie in IAF's new Rafale jet at Merignac airbase in France. He was guided by Philippe Duchateau - he test pilot of Dassault Aviation. sortie lasted for 35 minutes and Defence Minister termed it an 'unforgettable' experience. Singh also expressed his joy at being able to fly at supersonic speed. He also informed that jet was capable of engaging in air-air combat and air-land combat.

Defence Minister officially took over India's first Rafale jet at  Merignac airbase from French Defence Minister in Bordeaux, France. Prior to handing-over ceremony, he performed a 'Shastra puja' marking auspicious Vijaya Dasami. handing over ceremony was preceded by Singh's 35-minute long meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace, Paris. He also met with his French counterpart in Paris. 

RE| Rajnath Singh says, 'everyone's excited about IAF's Rafale induction'

What sets Rafale jet apart?

Rafale is fitted with 14 hardpoints. Its total external lo capacity is more than 9 tonnes. Hence, it can lift equivalent of its own empty weight in paylos. Its loitering capacity is 1.5 times that of Sukhoi. range is 780 to 1055 km as against 400-550 km of a Sukhoi jet. Similarly, Rafale jet can eng in 5 sorties per 24 hours against 3 by Sukhoi. Moreover, 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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