Amid row, IAF deputy chief test-flies first Rafale fighter jet made in France

The jets which are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and missiles will be delivered to India in September in the year 2019.

Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar test-flies the first Rafale fighter jet/ Image: ANI

New Delhi: Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar test-flew the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured for India by Dassault Aviation on Thursday in France. Amid the political slugfest over Rafale deal, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff Marshal Raghunath Nambiar test flew the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured for India by France on Thursday. The fighter jet has been made by Dassault aviation, official sources confirmed. As per sources, Nambiar who reached Paris four days ago flew the fighter jet to test the capacity of the jet. He has gone to Paris to assess the progress in the production of Rafale jets by Dassault Aviation. The jets which are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and missiles will be delivered to India in September in the year 2019. A team of Indian Air Force is already in France to aid Dassault Aviation in incorporating the India-specific weapon system and avionic in the craft. The news has come amid the entire controversy over the deal of purchasing the Rafale jets.

Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar test-flew the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured for India by Dassault Aviation, yesterday in France. pic.twitter.com/2bRr6Rmmn9

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2018

India and France signed a Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approximately) deal on September 23, 2016 for 36 Rafale jets. The Congress has been accusing massive irregularities in the deal, alleging that the government was procuring each aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government. The party has also demanded answers from the government on why state-run aerospace major HAL was not involved in the deal.