The newly inducted Rafale fighter jets by the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been prepped for night flying along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, reported the Hindustan Times.
The Golden Arrows squadron which operates these advanced fighters are practising night operations in the mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh to prepare for any situations along the LAC.
The squadron is practicing Rafales with their Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and SCALP air-to-ground stand-off weapon for any emergency call of duty.
The Rafale aircraft landed in the Ambala airbase on 29 July, and is currently “fully operational”, as per the report. HT had reported that Rafales are not being flown too close from the LAC to prevent the Chinese radars, stationed in occupied Aksai Chin, to identify their frequency and jam it in any case.
An expert in aviation told HT, “Even though the Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) have placed their electronic intelligence radars on mountain tops in the occupied Aksai Chin area for a clear line of sight, the war-time signature of Rafale will be different from that in practise mode. The PLA aircraft detection radars are good as they have been manufactured keeping the US air force in mind”.