Jamnagar (Gujarat): The second batch of Indian Air Force’s three Rafale fighter jets arrived at Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat directly from France on Wednesday.
IAF said in a tweet that the second batch of Rafale aircraft arrived in India on Wednesday. “Second batch of IAF #Rafale aircraft arrived in India at 8:14 pm on 04 Nov 20 after flying non-stop from France,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) stated.
This second batch of three Rafale aircraft took off from a French airbase and reached India after three mid-air refuelling en route. The Rafale aircraft covered the distance of 7,000-odd km flying from France to India in a span of eight hours, showcasing the IAF’s long-range operational capability.
India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France o procure 36 of these aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The induction of all 36 jets will be completed by 2023.
The first batch of five Rafale jets of the 36 ordered by the IAF had reached the Ambala airbase on July 29 after a stopover at the Al Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi, although a formal induction ceremony took place later on September 10.