NEW DELHI: Ahead of the formal handing over of the first Rafale fighter to India on October 8, the IAF has “technically accepted” the jet at the Bordeaux manufacturing facility of Dassault Aviation in France.
The twin-seat jet has the tail number “RB-001” to mark the role played by IAF chief-designate Air Marshal R K S Bhadauria in finalising the Rs 59,000 crore deal in September 2016.
The multi-role fighter was accepted by a team led by IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, who also flew in the plane for about an hour. Defence minister Rajnath Singh will be in France for the official induction ceremony on October 8, which will also include his French counterpart, as was reported earlier by TOI.
The first four Rafale jets will actually touch down in Ambala only in May next year after training of the “main” induction team of around 10 pilots, 10 flight engineers and 40 technicians in France. All the 36 jets – eight of them twin-seaters – will be delivered by April 2022.
IAF has resurrected its 17 Golden Arrows Squadron at Ambala for the first 18 Rafale jets meant for the western front with Pakistan. The 101 “Falcons” Squadron, in turn, will havOriginal Article
