IAF Set To Get Six Rafale Fighter Jets With India-Specific Enhancements In Next Two Months: Report

The last six Rafale multi-role fighter jets will be delivered to India with certain country-specific enhancements including long-range air-to-air missiles, frequency jammers and advanced communications in the next two months, reports Hindustan Times.

According to the report, the first batch of three Rafales with India-specific enhancements will arrive from Istres-Le Tube air base, north-west of Marseille, France in December.

The second batch of remaining three Rafales will be flown to Ambala air base in January 2022.

According to the report, after the testing of India specific enhancements in Indian conditions, the existing fleet of 30 Rafales is likely to be retrofitted with the same enhancements in the coming year.

The Rafale aircraft have been stationed in Ambala and Hashimara air base of the Indian Air Force.

India had inked an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, which is manufactured by French company Dassault Aviation, at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.

The Indian Rafale aircraft are equipped with Meteor air-to-air beyond visual range missiles, SCALP air to ground laser guided ammunition and HAMMER precision terrain hugging ammunition.