Chandigarh: The Indian Air Force is inducting the Rafale aircraft today at Air Force Station, Ambala. The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”.
Prior to the induction, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, was performed. Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh priests perform rituals in the Sarva Dharma Puja ahead of the induction of the five Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force.
Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces of France is the Chief Guest for the event.
#WATCH Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly, witness the traditional 'Sarva Dharma Puja' at the Rafale induction ceremony, at Ambala airbase pic.twitter.com/0z74ECflJd
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2020
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO are present to mark a very important milestone in the history of the IAF.
Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly also witnessed air display of Rafale fighter aircraft flanked by SU-30 and Jaguar aircraft in arrow formation.
Ambala: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly witness air display of Rafale fighter aircraft flanked by SU-30 and Jaguar aircraft in arrow formation pic.twitter.com/l6lAbTNsNJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2020
The first five Indian Air Force Rafale aircraft arrived at Air Force Station, Ambala from France on 27th July 2020.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh and the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Ms @florence_parly unveiling Rafale at Ambala Air Force Station. pic.twitter.com/I5926bLqXG
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) September 10, 2020