New Delhi: Rafale jets will take off from Istres and fly to French airbase in UAE before landing in Ambala. French air refuellers will carry out 2 mid-air refueling of the fighters till UAE. They will be here on July 27th. They will be ready for combat earlier than expected as the French have diverted an initial lot of cutting edge missiles meant for its own air force to India, according to the print.in. The website quoted a source as saying “The date worked out between India and France is July 27 for the delivery of the aircraft. Four aircraft will come for sure while an attempt is being made to ensure that a total of six jets come.”
Dassault Aviation has diverted some of its missiles for the delivery at the request of India. Originally, missile supply was supposed to happen in October, months after the delivery of the fighter jets. ThePrint had first reported on 20 March that the delivery of the Rafale fighter jets could get delayed from its original May date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On 14 April, ThePrint reported that the delivery will take place only in July.
According to the print’s sources “The fighters will be flown by Indian pilots and will fly straight for 10 hours (Al Dhafra). It will have a halt for the night and next day fly to Ambala,” Indian pilots and will fly straight for 10 hours (Al Dhafra). It will have a halt for the night and next day fly to Ambala,” another source told ThePrint. This is to avoid pilot quarantines at multiple locations. The flights will require mid-air refueling and this would be done by Airbus refuellers.
With the integration of Meteor into the Rafale weapons system, the Indian Rafale would be able to shoot down an enemy aircraft over 100 km away without even crossing the Indian air space. The 5.1-meter-long SCALP can be carried in either one missile or two missiles configuration on the Rafale. Its inclusion means Indian Rafales would not have to cross the Indian airspace to hit a target that is about 600 km in enemy territory.
