The first five of the 36 Rafale fighter jets India is procuring from the Dassault Aviation company of France took off from the Bordeaux-Merignac airbase in the West European country on Monday.
The aircraft will reach the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Ambala on Wednesday. With the new fighter aircraft being inducted to the IAF at a time when India is engaged in a military stand-off with China, New Delhi underlined that it was a significant step in “strengthening air power” and “defence preparedness” of the nation.
The long-awaited and the much-needed two squadrons of the Rafale fighter jets manufactured by the Dassault Aviation will add great strength to the IAF and the defence capabilities of India, New Delhi’s envoy to Paris, Jawed Ashraf, said at the Bordeaux-Merignac airbase in south-western France.
