India is looking forward to formally enlist, the first batch of five Rafale jets, which arrived in the country on the 29th of July into the Golden Arrows squadron of the Indian Air force today. The event will mark the presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chairman of the DRDO, Secretary Department of Defence R&D, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and several other dignitaries. Earlier India’s defence minister Rajnath singh took to twitter and tweeted,
At 10.00 AM tomorrow, #Rafale aircraft will be formally inducted into @IAF_MCC at the Air Force Station in Ambala. The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”. The Rafale jets are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in more than two decades.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 9, 2020
The program will be conducted in Ambala by carrying out traditional Sarva Dharma Pooja and will be followed by an air show displaying the breathtaking manoeuvers by the Rafale and Tejas fighter aircrafts, along with the Sarang aerobatic team.
The Rafael jets to be formally inducted are the ones that were ordered by the country four years back after the country signed an agreement with France to acquire 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. On Wednesday, France addressed India as it’s ultimate Asian strategic partner. In addition to this, they also informed about the visit of Defence Minister Florence Parly to India.