IT Correspondent
New Delhi, July 29:
Five Rafale jets from France landed in Haryana’s Ambala Air Force Station escorted by two Su-30MKIs on Tuesday. The fleet was received by Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet welcomed ‘Golden Arrows’ Rafale jets as it landed in IAF’s Ambala station, escorted by two Su-30MKIs. Singh said that the touch down of the five fighter aircraft mark the ‘beginning of new era in our country’s military history.
“I congratulate the IAF on a professionally executed ferry. I am sure that 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, will continue to live up to their motto of “Udayam Ajasram”. I am extremely happy that IAF’s combat capability has got a timely boost,” Singh said.
The fighter aircrafts are part of a Rs 58,000 crore deal with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets, inked between India and France in 2016. Out of five aircrafts, two will be retained for training, while the rest are expected to be deployed at an Advance Landing Ground (ALG) at Vijaynagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
The aircraft are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and missiles and are equipped to carry out the air to surface attacks. They joined the Air Force fleet today. The formal induction ceremony of the aircraft would be held later.
The last foreign fighters inducted into the Air Force were the Sukhoi-30s from Russia which have now become the mainstay of the Air Force after multiple orders in view of delays in placing orders for new western aircraft.
A part of security tightening measure and prohibitory orders, the Ambala district administration has barred people from flying private drones within the three-km radius of the air base. Roads leading to the Air Force Station have also been sealed till 5 pm on Wednesday. Section 144 has been imposed in four villages closer to the air base, an official said, adding that gathering of people on roofs and photography during landing is strictly prohibited.
