Amidst tensions simmering along the Line of Actual Control with China, India is about to receive the much awaited Rafale fighter aircrafts as Indian Air Force pilots fly them from France to Ambala Air Force Station.
The Indian mission in France congratulated and bid adieu with the Indian Ambassador congratulating and sending-off the pilots.
Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia #Rafale@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/jk3IWD9tYU
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020
The pilots will fly the jets with a single hop.
The first batch of jets will be inducted at the Ambala Air Force Station on July 29.
The deal for the acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets in ‘fly-away’ was signed between the Governments of India and France in 2015 after the Congress government sat on it for more than 10 years.
The deal was signed between the two governments at a cost of ₹58,000 crores.
The new Rafales will add strategic depth and strength to India’s air combat capabilities and will be an addition to the growing Indian fleet.
The new Rafales add strategic depth and strength to India’s air combat capabilities. They fly out of France today to join the growing Indian fleet of aircrafts. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia@MEAIndia @FranceinIndia @IAF_MCC @Dassault_OnAir @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia @DDNewslive @ANI pic.twitter.com/FU5n1po83y
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020