With an incredible amount of enthusiasm, India is all set to welcoming aboard the five Rafale fighter jets which took off from France on Monday and are scheduled to arrive in India on Wednesday. The jets were scheduled to have a lay over in the UAE and the re-fueling was supposed to be done mid air.
While the jets are en route, the Indian Air Force shares a collection of shots taken of the jets while getting re-fueled in the air. The Indian Embassy in France shared some breathtaking pictures, on Twitter, of the jets getting refueled, mid-air.
Few shots from 30,000 feet! Mid air refuelling of #RafaleJets on their way to #India@IAF_MCC @French_Gov @FranceinIndia @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @DDNewslive @ANI @DefenceMinIndia @Armee_de_lair @JawedAshraf5 pic.twitter.com/VE7lJUcZe7
— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) July 28, 2020
The jets had safely landed today at Al-Dhafra, post a seven-hour long flight from France, on Monday evening.
An extensive support has been offered by the government of France which also included re-fueling of the jets mid-way. The refueling between France to Al-Dhafra was supported by the French Air Force’s Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft.
From Al-Dafrah to Ambala, the Aerial refueling would be done by the Indian Air Force’s Russian Ilyushin-78 refuellers, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The jets took off from France on Monday. They are being driven by trained pilots of the Indian Air Force. To commemorate this occasion, the Indian Ambassador, Jawed Ashraf, was present at the sight. He also took charge of spearheading the execution of the first leg of the operation.
Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop. #ResurgentIndia #NewIndia #Rafale@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/jk3IWD9tYU
— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) July 27, 2020
The Indian Embassy in France shared a video on Twitter, of a rafale jet. The embassy termed it “beauty and beast” while appreciating the splendid aviation masterpiece.
"Beauty and the Beast"- #Rafale Fighter Aircraft. Ready to take off @MEAIndia @JawedAshraf5 @gouvernementFR @Dassault_OnAir @rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @DDNewslive @ANI @DrSJaishankar @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/TTAi6DHun7
— India in France (@IndiaembFrance) July 27, 2020
With the first batch of jets arriving tomorrow at Ambala’s Indian Air Force Fleet, Section 144 has been imposed in the city and the four villages close to the airbase. Gathering on roods and photography has also been prohibited during their arrival, said Munish Sehgal, DSP Traffic, Ambala.