Indian Air Force To Be Delivered First Rafale By 23 September, Order For 36 Jets To Be Fulfilled By 2022

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to get delivery of its first Rafale jet by 20 September and a formal induction ceremony would be held around the same time in France, Hindustan Times has reported.

“We have written to the French defence ministry that the first Rafale should be delivered between 18 and 23 September”, an IAF officer was quoted as saying,

After the induction, the IAF pilots and crew currently stationed in France would undergo training and testing on the jet. Ultimately in around April-May 2020 the first batch of four Rafale jets would be flown into India.

The IAF is expected to get a delivery of all 36 Rafale jets by September 2022. These jets will be split into two squadrons which will be based at Ambala in Haryana and Hasimara in West Bengal, respectively.

These fighter jets will be equipped with MBDA made Meteor beyond visual range missiles, with a no-escape zone three times larger than other contemporary missiles.