A fresh batch of three Rafale aircraft arrived in India on Wednesday, after a direct ferry from Istres Air Base, France. The aircraft were provided mid-air refuelling by air force tankers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the IAF said.
“Three Rafale aircraft arrived in India a short while ago, after a direct ferry from Istres Air Base, France. IAF deeply appreciates the support by UAE Air Force for in-flight refuelling during the non-stop ferry,” the IAF said in a tweet.
The new squadron of Rafale jets will be based in Hasimara airbase in West Bengal. The first Rafale squadron is based in the Ambala air force station. A squadron comprises around 18 aircraft.
This is the seventh set of these planes. The first batch of five French-made multirole Rafale fighter jets had arrived in India on July 29 last year, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to purchase 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.
In April, during a five-day visit to France, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flagged off the fifth batch of three jets from the Merignac air base. The fifth ferry marked the end of training of the third batch of pilots and maintenance crew, ACM Bhadauria said then.
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