Defence Minister Rajnath Singh To Receive First Of The 36 Rafale Fighter Jets For IAF On Dussehra

Around three years after India signed a deal with French government for 36 Rafale jets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will receive the first of the three dozens combat aircraft on 8 October in France, reports Economic Times.

"8 October is auspicious for two reasons. It is both Dussehra and Air Force day on that day," government sources were quoted in the report as saying.

According to the report, sources said that Singh, along with defence secretary Ajay Kumar and other senior officials, will travel to receive the aircraft from France on 8 October.

Earlier, it was reported that Defence Minister could receive the aircraft along with Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa in France on 19-20 September. However, there seem to be change of plans as now an IAF team will be travelling to France at the same time to sign documents with the French officials after which the Indian pilots will start training on the Rafale planes.

"Once they start training, they may also fly the aircraft once the Defence Minister and his team reach the location near Bordeaux," the sources said.

During the handing over ceremony, the top military brass of France as well as senior officials of the Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the aircraft, will also be present.

As per the report, though the Rafale would be officially inducted into the IAF on 8 October, they would start arriving in India only in May 2020 after being modifies as per the Indian specifications and training of pilots and personnel.

The IAF will reportedly train 24 pilots in three different batches till May 2020 for flying the Indian Rafale combat aircraft. Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in West Bengal will be the airbases where the IAF will deploy one squadron each of the Rafale.

Earlier in 2016, India had signed a deal with France for acquiring 36 Rafale jets for more than 7.8 billion euros.