Fourth Batch Of Three Rafale Fighter Jets Land In India

The fourth batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in India on Wednesday evening after flying non-stop from Istres Air Base France, in a further boost to the strike capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"The 4th batch of three IAF #Rafales landed on Indian soil after a direct ferry from #IstresAirBase France," informed the IAF on Twitter.

According to Indian Air Force officials, three Rafale fighter aircraft which took off from France for India were scheduled to land at the Jamnagar airbase.

The aircraft had also started joining the IAF fleet in the July-August timeframe last year and were quickly operationalised by the Air Force in the shortest possible time.

The aircraft had also been deployed for patrolling along the China front in eastern Ladakh and other fronts during the height of the China confrontation.

Earlier in March, the Air Force said that they are to raise second squadron of Rafale jets at Hasimara Air Force base in West Bengal by April to counter threats from China.

It is a strategic base for Air Force operations because of its proximity to Bhutan.

The Chumbi Valley where the tri-junction lies between India-Bhutan and China is close to Doklam where a standoff took place in 2017. The tri-junction has been matter of concern for all the three nations.

"Second Rafale Squadron is being raised at the next Main Operating Base (MOB) Hasimara in mid April this year," an Indian Air Force official had stated.

So far 21 Rafale aircraft have been delivered to India, 11 are already ferried, three were ferried today and five more will be ferried by end of April, he said.

The first squadron was raised in Ambala after the first batch of the five Rafale aircraft landed on 29 July 2020.