Three more Rafale fighter jets arrived in India as the seventh batch of delivery after flying non-stop from France and traveling almost 8,000 km in order to boost the strike capability of Indian Air Force (IAF).
The latest batch of the aircraft will be included as the IAF’s second regiment of the Rafale jets.
The air force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) air force provided mid-air refuelling to the aircrafts.
IAF Tweeted stating “Three Rafale aircraft arrived in India a short while ago, after a direct ferry from #IstresAirBase, France. IAF deeply appreciates the support by UAE Air Force for in-flight refuelling during the non-stop ferry,”.
The number of Rafale planes in the IAF has increased to 24 with the arrival of the latest batch. The Ambala air force station is home to the first Rafale squadron. A squadron is made up of about 18 planes. In September 2016, India and France inked an inter-governmental deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter planes at a cost of ~58,000 crore.
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