Setting on a gradual increase of the most awaited fleet of fighters, the Indian Air Force is getting prepared for their next batch of Dassault Rafale jets arrival this week.
IAF Chief Marshal Rakesh Bhadauria will flag off six Rafale fighter jets from Merignac-Bordeaux airbase in France on Wednesday during his official visit to France, marking the line for activating the second Rafale squadron at Hasimara in West Bengal, according to the IAF statement.
As part of deeper strategic partnership between both states, the IAF chief is slated to visit France. During the official visit to the European nation, Air Chief Bhadauria will be paying a visit to the French Rafale squadron based in Merignac base, and meet his counterpart Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force Philippe Lavigne, as well as tour the newly established Space Command in Paris.
With the arrival of this latest batch, IAF will begin the formation of a second Rafale squadron at Hasimara in the eastern sector near the bordering region against China. The addition of this combat aircraft will enhance India’s aerial capability with C-130J Superhercules tactical air-lifters complimenting the squadron based in Panagarh in the northern part of West Bengal at the eastern frontier of LAC. Highlighting the creation of a consolidating zone of reach, Rafales India will establish a powerful presence in remote states of the northeastern region, especially in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh bordering China.
