A third batch of three more Rafale fighter jets took off from France for a non-stop flight to India. The Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) of the United Arab Emirates will provide mid-air refuelling to the three Rafale jets.
The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, 2020 and the second batch of three Rafale jets arrived in India on November 3. India signed an inter-governmental agreement in the year 2016 with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The new fleet of Rafale jets has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh.
The Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. The mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets include European missile maker MBDA’s Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system.
The first squadron of the Rafale jets is stationed at Ambala air base while the second one will be based at Hasimara base in West Bengal.
