IAF Likely To Receive Three More Rafale Fighter Planes Today; UAE To Provide Mid-Air Refueling 

India had ordered 36 Rafale aircraft from France in September 2016, and as per the contract, at least 21 of the 36 fighter jets are to be delivered to India by April-end 2021. The latest edition of three in the Golden Arrows Squadron in Ambala will strengthen the fleet to 14. 

Of the 36-Rafale contract, the Indian Air Force is set to receive a fresh batch of three more French-made fighter jets on Wednesday (March 31), after mid-air refuelling in the United Arab Emirates with the help of UAE Air Force’s Airbus 330 multi-role transport tankers over the Gulf of Oman.

News agency ANI reported Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India saying that It's a matter of great pride, "we've been able to deliver on schedule and even ahead of schedule" in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Right now 21 Rafales delivered to India, 11 already ferried to India, three are right now being ferried and 5 extra will be ferried by end of April," French Envoy said, adding that "total 36  aircraft will have been delivered as per contract in 2022."

India had ordered 36 Rafale aircraft from France in September 2016, and as per the contract, at least 21 of the 36 fighter jets are to be delivered to India by April-end 2021. The latest edition of three in the Golden Arrows Squadron in Ambala will strengthen the fleet to 14. 

The first five of the thirty-six best-in-class Rafale fighter jets which flew out from the Dassault Aviation's Merignac facility base in French port city of Bordeaux, had arrived in India on July 29, 2020. The multirole combat planes  were formally inducted as part of the 17 Squadron, also known as 'Golden Arrows' of the Indian Air Force at the Ambala Air Base in Haryana on September 10 last year. 

This was followed by three being delivered to India on November 5, and another three in January this year. 

The Rafale jets are armed with the air-to-air Meteor, air to ground SCALP, and Hammer missiles. These omni-role aircraft are capable of interdiction, ground support, aerial reconnaissance, in-depth aerial strikes, anti-ship strikes and even carrying out nuclear attacks (if the military conflict escalates to a nuclear conflict).

At the time when India is locked into border disputes with its neighbours, the Rafale aircraft be a game changer in the current scenario. The French fleet is expected to give an edge to the Indian Air Force over its traditional adversaries China and Pakistan in the South Asian skies due to its long-range hit capabilities.