India: Indian Air Force has decided to formally induct Rafale aircraft at Air Force Station, Ambala on 10th September 2020. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly will be the Chief Guest of the ceremony, according to officials.
The French defence minister is scheduled to arrive Thursday morning and will depart late afternoon, the officials said. She will be given a ceremonial Guard of Honour on arrival at Delhi and the two ministers would hold talks in Ambala on ways to discuss the further deepening of bilateral defence and security cooperation after the ceremony, they said.
The first five Airforce Rafale aircraft arrived from France on July 27 at our Air Force Station nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.
Rafale is the first major acquisition of India of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.
The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron of the IAF, the ‘ Golden Arrows’ which was resurrected on September 10 last year.
