IAF formally inducts first 5 Rafale jets in the 17th Sqn ‘Golden Arrows’ at Ambala Airbase
10 Sep 2020 11:45:39
India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in more than two decades, the Rafale multirole jets made by French manufacturer Dassault have been formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on Thursday. In presence of the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly the traditional 'Sarva Dharma Puja' was conducted at the Rafale induction ceremony, at Ambala airbase. Also present for the induction ceremony were Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. Defence Minister while addressing from the airbase said that “it is a big day for the IAF and the strategic ties between two countries have now strengthened,” he added.
The Defence Minister addressing everyone present at the induction ceremony said that “it is a big day for the Indian Air Force.” He shared a tweet from his social media handle while attending the Rafale induction ceremony in Ambala airbase. The induction of Rafale into IAF also represents the strong lies between India and France, added the Defence Minister.
Nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to buy 36 jets for ₹ 59,000 crore, the first batch of five Rafale fighter jets that arrived in India on July 29 have been formally inducted as part of the 17 Squadron, nicknamed Golden Arrows, at Ambala Air Force Station on Thursday.
The ceremony at Ambala Air Force Station included a ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, Air Display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as by ‘Sarang Aerobatic Team’, the IAF officials said.
“IAF will formally induct the Rafale aircraft in the 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' today at Air Force Station, Ambala. New bird in the arsenal of IAF,” read a tweet posted by IAF on its Twitter handle. A traditional water cannon salute will also be given to the Rafale fleet before its ceremonial induction into the 17 Squadron, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Indranil Nandi said.
The ceremony is being attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly. Post the induction ceremony, the defence ministers will hold bilateral discussions as per reports. French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly is also scheduled to meet National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
The induction of the five Rafale jets will take the IAF’s squadron strength to 31. All the 36 jets are to be delivered to the IAF by 2021. The Rafale jets, built by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are known for air-superiority and precision strikes on ground targets, making them truly multirole jets.