Rafales enter India in formation on-camera; establish radio contact with INS Kolkata

As India awaits the arrival of the first five Rafale jets from France, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has confirmed that all of them have entered the Indian air space and are being escorted by 2 SU30 MKIs. The Rafale jets will land at Ambala Air Base, and if the weather conditions are unfavourable, they will instead go to Jodhpur airbase which has also been prepped for their arrival. IAF chief RKS Bhadauria will be on hand to receive them. The Defence Minister has shared stunning visuals of the Rafale complement in formation. The five Rafales escorted by 02 SU30 MKIs as they enter the Indian air space.@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/djpt16OqVd — रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) July 29, 2020 READ | The Hammer and other weapon systems that make the aircraft lethal; read here Earlier, the Indian Rafale contingent established contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata, deployed in the Western Arabian Sea. INS Kolkata Delta 63 was heard sending the following message: Arrow leader, Welcome to Indian Ocean. Rafale leader: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding seas INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over&out #HEAR: Indian #Rafale contingent establishes contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata deployed in Western Arabian Sea. pic.twitter.com/NOnzKOo2fa — ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2020 READ | IAF's Rafale could have up to 6 HAMMER hardpoints; primed to devastate land-based targets Rafale to arrive at Ambala The first batch of five Rafale fighter aircraft took off from France for India on Monday, nearly four years after the two countries inked an inter-governmental agreement to supply 36 of the multi-role jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF) under a Rs 59,000-crore deal.The aircraft flew out from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux and are covering a distance of nearly 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates before their planned arrival at Ambala Air Base. The sophisticated aircraft are expected to significantly boost the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities at a time India is locked in a tense border row with China in eastern Ladakh. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had received the first Rafale during his visit to the Dassault Aviation facility in Mérignac, France on October 8, 2019. However, the arrival of the aircraft after being refitted with India-specific enhancements was postponed by two months in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the India-specific modifications in the aircraft include radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems. READ | Rafale Jet Specifics: From superior attack capability to menacing speed; read features READ | Iran missile scare 'very close' to where India's 5 Rafale halted; sparked late-night alarm

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Rafales enter India in formation on-camera; establish radio contact with INS Kolkata

As India awaits the arrival of Rafale jets, Raksha Mantri has confirmed that five Rafales have entered the Indian air space & are being escorted by 02 SU30 MKIs

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