India will be sending its Refale fighter jets to take part in the multinational exercise Orion in France. The newly inducted Rafale combat jets are deployed in Haryana’s Ambala and West Bengal’s Hasimara air bases.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 8, 2023 01:42 IST
The Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft with long-range air-to-air and air to ground missiles.
By Manjeet Negi: India has decided to send its Rafale fighter jets to France for a multinational exercise. The multinational exercise Orion will be hosted by the French government.
The aircraft would be reaching France in the third week of April and participate in the wargames for a few weeks before moving out from there.
The multinational wargame codenamed Orion will involve India, the USA and other allies of France, government sources told India Today.
The newly inducted Rafale combat jets are deployed in Haryana’s Ambala and West Bengal’s Hasimara air bases.
India received the last Rafale fighter jet from France on December 15, completing the delivery of all 36 aircraft which was a part of the deal between India and France.
Senior defence officials told India Today that the aircraft were used for developing the India-specific enhancements in the Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The 36th aircraft was provided to India with all its spares and other parts replaced as it was being used for developmental activities.
WHAT IS RAFALE JET?
The Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft with long-range air-to-air and air to ground missiles along with advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities.
The French firm Dassault Aviation is also involved in the maintenance of the aircraft, whose serviceability is over 75 per cent. The Rafale was inducted swiftly into the Indian Air Force at the peak of the conflict with China and had started operating over Ladakh within a week of its arrival in the country.
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