First batch of 5 Rafale jets take off from France to India

The first batch of five Rafale fighter jets took off from Merignac in France on Monday (July 27) and is slated to arrive in India on Wednesday (July 29).

The five aircraft will be the first to arrive of the 36 plans that India bought from France in 2016.

“Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop,” the Indian embassy in France tweeted.

New milestone in India-France defence cooperation to further strengthen strategic partnership. First batch of five Rafale fighter aircraft fly out from Merignac, France to India.@IAF_MCC @MeaIndia @rajnathsingh @Dassault_OnAir @DefenceMinIndia @PMOIndia @JawedAshraf5@ANI pic.twitter.com/dIL2sVLABi

— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) July 27, 2020

 On their arrival, the jets will be formally inducted to the Indian Air Force’s fleet in Haryana’s Ambala, reports said.

Reports said 12 IAF pilots have been trained to fly the said aircrafts which will be a boost to India’s armory amid its standoff with China in eastern Ladakh

The aircraft will be refueled at the French airbase in the UAE on its way to India.