The newly acquired generation 4+ Rafale fighter jets will give India a strategic advantage against China in the mountainous region of Tibet, said former Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Marshal (retd) BS Dhanoa, the Indian Express reported.
The former head of the IAF made this statement on Sunday (2 August) and explained that the Rafale fighters will enjoy terrain advantage, destroy enemy air defence and incapacitate the surface-to-air missiles.
Getting deeper into the overall capabilities of the fighter, Dhanoa talked about the electronic warfare suite and manoeuvrability and how Rafale jets will have the advantage in the mountainous terrain in the Tibet to blind the enemy before India’s strike aircraft penetrate hostile airspace to carry out their missions.
The Indian Rafale jets are much more advanced than the ones which are being operated by the French Air Force. When India ordered the jets in 2016, it had asked for the requirement to operate in unique conditions.
Dhanoa was at the helm when the IAF carried out the Balakot airstrikes deep into Pakistan territory and he also said once the IAF receives the S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems from Russia, the combination of Rafale jets will give the IAF a major combat edge in the entire region.
He made it very clear that from now on India’s adversaries will have to think twice before provoking it.