'Beauty and the beast': Watch India's Rafale's takeoff for delivery to IAF in Ambala

As India gears up in anticipation to welcome Rafale jets from France, Indian Ambassor to France Jawed Ashraf on Monday posted a video mess thanking French Government and Dassault Aviation for timely delivery of jets to India. Five Rafale jets took off from Merignac facility in France on Monday on ir way to India in a journey of more than 7000kms. Being flown by extremely well-trained Indian Air Force pilots, jets would make a small pit-stop in UAE for refuelling before reaching Ambala on July 29.

"Our Air Force pilots tell us se are extremely swift, versatile and very dely. You might call m both Beauty and Beast. I would like to thank Dassault and French Government. This would be a powerful symbol of strategic partnership between India and France. Our pilots are very excited to be flying this machine. It's a remarkable display of ir skill and endurance, fact y would be able to do this with only one stop and mid-air refuelling. We wish m a safe flight," said Jawed Ashraf. 

'Emblematic of new heights' 

Taking to Twitter official Twitter handle of Indian Embassy in France shared a stunning video of take off of Rafale jets from  Merignac facility in France saying that take would be 'emblematic of new heights' in defence relationship between Indian and France.  

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Rafale deal

government of India signed a deal with French government and Dassault Aviation to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets to bolster India’s urgent requirement on eastern and western borders in September 2016. It costs more than 7.8 billion euros. While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received first Rafale during his visit to  Dassault Aviation facility in Mérignac, France on October 8, 2019, aircraft were originally scheduled to arrive in country by May-end after being refitted with India-specific enhancements. However, delivery of aircraft has been postponed by two months in wake of COVID-19 crisis in India and France. Sources d that first Rafale shall be piloted by  Commanding Officer of 17 Golden Arrows' squron along with a French pilot.

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