July 28, 2020
2 mins read

IAF Chief To Receive Five Rafale Jets

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. (File Photo: IANS)

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will receive five Rafale jets that will land at the Ambala air base on Wednesday for induction.

The jets flew out from the Merignac airbase in the French port city of Bordeaux and after covering a distance of nearly 7,000 km landed at Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates on Monday night.

The fleet comprises three single-seater- and two twin-seater- aircraft. They will be inducted into the Indian Air Force as part of its No 17 Squadron, also known as the Golden Arrows at Ambala airbase.

The Air Force has stated that the pilots, ground crew and the fighter will be operationally ready as the jets reach India.

 

Rafale would be a game-changer in the current scenario when India is facing border tension with China in Eastern Ladakh. It is being stated that it will increase India’s air power manifold.

Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft and has the latest weapons, superior sensors and fully integrated architecture.

Senior Indian Air Force officers state that China’s premier fighter jet Chengdu J-20A is no match to Rafale capabilities which has been seen in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria.

China claims that its J-20 is a 5th generation fighter aircraft, however, it has a 3rd generation engine, said a senior IAF officer questioning stealth capabilities of the aircraft.

China is now going to buy Russian Su35 to match Rafale.

Rafale fighter aircraft. (File Photo: IANS)

The officer also said that Rafale is an Omni-role aircraft which means it can carry out at least four missions in one sortie. However, China J-20 cannot carry out multiple missions in one go.

Further, the Rafale fighter aircraft will have HAMMER missiles. It will also be armed with beyond visual range missiles like Meteor, SCALP and MICA, increasing their ability to take on incoming targets from a distance.

The meteor missile in Rafale makes it far more potent than the J-20. The officer also explained that the Rafale engine is better in terms of reliability, longevity and maintainability.

Rafale jet (File Photo: IANS)

The officer further pointed out that Rafale can lift loads up to 1.5 times its weight, which means it can carry weapons and fuel of far greater capacity than the J-20.

In Western Theatre Command, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force has deployed 157 fighters and 20 GJ-1/WD-1K precision strike UAVs.

India has deployed 270 fighter aircraft and 68 ground attack aircraft.

Also Read-Modi And Mauritius PM To Jointly Inaugurate New SC Building

Previous Story

Modi And Mauritius PM To Jointly Inaugurate New SC Building

Next Story

Spanish PM Lashes Out At U K’s ‘Disproportionate’ Restrictions

Latest from India

Maharashtra Sees Sharp Spike In Cases

Maharashtra recorded the highest – 495 – Covid-19 deaths, a day after a record peak of 23,816 new cases, as the state total is set to touch a million, health officials said

Can Metro Solve Agra’s Traffic Woes

Though work on the ambitious Agra Metro rail project has begun, no thought has been given to the restructuring and redesigning of the existing road network in the city…reports India Daily News

Gujarat Records Highest Single Day Spike

Gujarat recorded its highest spike of 1,272 coronavirus cases on Friday, taking its tally to 92,601 while the death toll rose to 2,978 as 14 more patients succumbed. During August so far,
Go toTop