First Batch of Rafale Jets Leave from France, to be inducted into IAF on 29th July

The first batch of the Rafale Aircraft has been sent from France and these five aircraft will be the first instalment of the 36 planes bought by India from France in Rs 59000 crores inter-governmental deal in 2016.

These fighter jets will reach India after crossing a distance of nearly 7000 km from France to India with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop at a French airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was decided that ten aircraft would be sent but five of them have been kept in France for a training mission.

It has been decided that all the 36 aircraft will be delivered to India by the end of 2021. These ten aircraft have been completed on schedule and it is expected that all the remaining aircraft will also be sent on time.

In this regard, the first-ever Rafale fighter jet was handed over to India in October 2019.

What are Rafale Fighter Jets?

These are twin-engine medium multi-role combat aircraft. Rafale jets are developed by the French company Dassault Aviation and they can carry out interceptions during the same flight. Aircraft is fitted with an on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) and that is why; it does not require liquid oxygen re-filling or ground support for oxygen production.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020