India gets Rafale fighter jets from France, boosting its air force
By Himanshu raj Date=July 30, 2020
A French-made Rafale jet fighter is exhibited in the workshops of Dassault-Aviation in Merignac near Bordeaux on October 8, 2019, during the delivery ceremony to India of the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft ordered in 2016 from Dassault-Aviation.
Dehli, India (CNN)Five French-made jet fighters arrived in India on Wednesday, the first of 36 New Dehli ordered as it moves to upgrade its air force amid a spike in tensions with China.
"The Birds have landed safely in Ambala," Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted. "The touchdown of Rafale combat aircrafts in India marks the beginning of a new era in our military history."
Singh said the twin-engine, multirole fighters would "revolutionize" the Indian Air Force (IAF). Ordered in 2016, they come in one-seat or two-seat versions and can be armed with air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles as well as a 30mm cannon, according to the manufacturer, Dassault Aviation.
Dassault also touts the Rafale's Flight Control System, which includes the ability for it to fly on autopilot in a terrain-following mode in all weather conditions.
"This aircraft has very good flying performance and its weapons, radar and other sensors and electronic warfare capabilities are among the best in the world. Its arrival in India will make the IAF much stronger to deter any threat that may be posed on our country," Singh is quoted as saying in a government press release.
The arrival of the jets in India comes about six weeks after Indian troops fought with Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control, the disputed border between the two powers high in the Himalayas. Twenty Indians were killed in hand-to-hand combat, and fears linger of further hostilities.
Singh made reference to the dispute on Wednesday.
"If it is anyone who should be worried about, or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity," he tweeted.
Indian Defence minister Rajnath Singh speaks during the ceremony marking the delivery of the first of 36 Rafale fighter jets destined for India, on October 8, 2019 at Dassault Aviation plant in Merignac, France.
Indian media has been filled with glowing expert reviews of the Rafale jets compared to what China could bring to bear in any aerial conflict, including China's new J-20 stealth fighters. The Rafale is not a stealth jet, but it is touted for for having a low profile that is not easy to detect on radar.
How the two aircraft may face off is an open debate, but the Rafale may have one distinct advantage -- combat experience.
Flown by French forces, the Rafale has been used in operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria, Dassault Aviation says on its website.
India officially accepted delivery of the first batch of jets at the French plant where they are manufactured last October.
Indian pilots trained on the aircraft and flew them on the 8,500-kilometer (5,280-mile) trip from France to India. The trip included a stop at Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates, with a French Air Force tanker aircraft providing inflight refueling, the Indian government said in press release.
Two Indian Su-30 fighters escorted the Rafales as they entered Indian airspace, the government said.
Along with the Su-30s, other fighters in the Indian fleet include the Mirage 2000, the LCA Tejas, the MiG-27, the MiG-29 and the Jaguar.
Rafale home, mega boost for air power
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria (2nd L) and Air Marshal B Suresh (R), Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command, with the Indian Air Force pilots of the first five Rafale aircraft on their arrival from France at the Air Force Station, Ambala, on Wednesday. PTI
The five jets, part of the 36 ordered from Dassault Aviation of France, arrived to a rousing welcome. They are the first step to building up the IAF strength to 42 fighter jet squadrons (16-18 jets in each). The IAF currently has 31 squadrons, including five with MiG-21s, which should have been ideally decommissioned by now.
The Indian forces assess a need for 42 squadrons (some 18 planes in each) to tackle a two-front war with Pakistan and China simultaneously. The remaining 31 Rafales will be delivered progressively till May 2023 or over the next 34 months. Also, 20 LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas will be inducted over the next two years, which will be added to the existing fleet of 20 Tejas fighters.
Besides the Rafales and Tejas, the IAF will be looking for 230 other jets to make good the shortfall.
As an immediate measure, India has gone back to its long-standing military ally Russia to order an additional 33 fighter jets. These will include 21 MiG 29, adding to the existing fleet of 59 jets. The purchase and the upgrade of the existing fleet will cost Rs 7,418 crore ($1billion approx). In addition, New Delhi is buying 12 Sukhoi 30 MKI. India has a sanction from Russia for licensed production of 272 such jets. The additional 12 fighters will meet the immediate shortages and make up for those that have crashed over the past decade.
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