Rafale Fighter Jets To Be Formally Inducted Into IAF On 10 Sept; French Defence Minister Also Invited For Event 

In a major development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to formally induct the five Rafale fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Ambala airbase in Haryana on 10 September, reports Times of India.

The report further stated that the French defence minister has also been invited for the induction ceremony.

Rajnath Singh will first attend the meeting of the defence ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation from 4 to 6 September, and later on take part in the induction ceremony in Ambala.

Notably, the five Rafale jets arrived at the Indian Air Force (IAF) airbase in Ambala on 29 July. India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2016 to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets for Rs 58,000 crore.

The fighter aircraft have already conducted successful weapons firing at a test range after arrival.

The 'Golden Arrows' 17 Squadron, which operated from the Bhatinda air base, was disbanded in 2016 after the Indian Air Force started gradual phasing out of Russian-origin MIG-21 jets. It was formed in 1951 and initially flew de Havilland Vampire F Mk 52 fighters.

The squadron has been resurrected and will be the first unit to fly the multi-role Rafale fighter jets.