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India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with his French counterpart Florence Parly attended the induction ceremony to be held at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana.
In a mega ceremony in Ambala, the first batch of 5 Rafale fighter jets were indicted into IAF after traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, air display and Sarang aerobatic team’s performance.
Water canon salute was also given to the Rafale fighter jets following their air display at the Ambala airbase. Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly greeted by CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, IAF chief RKS Bhadauria and other top defence officials.
Informing about the same, Rajnath Singh yesterday had said that "At 10.00 AM tomorrow, #Rafale aircraft will be formally inducted into @IAF_MCC at the Air Force Station in Ambala. The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows. The Rafale jets are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in more than two decades."
Rafale Jets Induction Ceremony
The induction program includes ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional 'sarva dharma puja', air display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as Sarang aerobatic team. A traditional water cannon salute was also given to the fleet of french birds before they are inducted into the Indian Air Force.
Besides Defence Ministers of India and France, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar are also at the induction ceremony.
As per the reports, the French delegation at the ceremony included France’s ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain, Air General Eric Autellet, Vice Chief of Air Staff of the French Air Force and Dassault Aviation chief executiveEric Trappier.
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About Rafale Fighter Jets
The induction of Rafale combat jets in India marks the beginning of a new era in the history of Indian Military. 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, touched down at the Indian Air Force's 'Golden Arrow' Squadron at Ambala, Haryana on July 29. The first 4.5 generation aircraft fleet comprises three single-seater- and two twin-seater- combat jets.
Amid the ongoing dispute with China, Rafale would be a game changer in the current scenario as India is involved in border tension with the Dragon in eastern Ladakh as it will increase India's air power manifold.
The Rafales armed with the air-to-air Meteor, air to ground SCALP, and Hammer missiles are 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.
These omnirole 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).