The Indian Air Force (IAF) shared a pleasant update stating that the last of the 36 IAF Rafale aircrafts has landed in India. “Feet dry! ‘The Pack is Complete’.”, it said. The aircraft reached India from France after a quick en-route mid-air refueling from a UAE Air Force tanker.

India had ordered 36 Rafale aircraft from France in September 2016 and two squadrons of the Rafale have been established by the Indian Air Force. The first one was in Ambala, Haryana and the second was in Hasimara, West Bengal. While the former is aimed to counter any attack from the Western border, the latter takes care of misadventures from the East. The first batch of five Rafale jets had arrived at the Air Force Station in Ambala in July 2020.

The Rafale is a 4.5-generation aircraft and has helped India regain its supremacy over Indian sub-constituent skies with long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles along with advanced radar and electronic warfare capabilities.

The Rafale deal was a game changer for India’s national security and its induction is a strong message for the world and especially for those who challenge India’s sovereignty. Indian Air Force inducted the French-made Dassault Rafale fighter jet in an aim to modernize its fleet. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons, including European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system.

The twin-engine omnirole fighter jet is known for air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence fighter aircraft, equipped with a wide range of weapons. The IAF has also added the HAMMER missile to the Rafale’s arsenal as it was required for carrying out precision attacks at shorter distances.

The Rafale joins the likes of Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage and India-made Tejas LCA to further strengthen IAF’s arsenal.