Rafale fighter jets inducted into Indian Air Force Golden Arrow Squadron

The Indian Air Force has inducted five Rafale Fighter Jets in their Golden Arrow Squadron. The induction ceremony took place at the Ambala Air Force Station. The move comes at the crucial stage when India and China are engaged in an escalating border row in eastern Ladakh.

The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, his French counterpart Florence Parly, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.

“New bird in the arsenal of IAF,” the Air Force tweeted this morning.

#RafaleInduction
IAF will formally induct the Rafale aircraft in the 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ today at Air Force Station, Ambala.
New bird in the arsenal of IAF. pic.twitter.com/cd6k54KJJ0

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 10, 2020

The IAF further tweeted,

#RafaleInduction
IAF has formally inducted the #Rafale aircraft in 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ today, at Air Force Station, Ambala. The ceremony also marks #Rafale’s full operational entry into IAF.

Glimpses of the Rafale in action with IAF. pic.twitter.com/WfohU5vMET

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 10, 2020

The Rafale jets, built by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are known for air-superiority and precision strikes on ground targets, making them truly multirole jets. The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29. This was four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to buy 36 jets for ₹ 59,000 crores.

Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighters and six will be trainers. The first squadron of the Rafale jets will be stationed at Ambala airbase, the second will be based at Hasimara in West Bengal.

Also Read: Rafale in India: Special Features & Advantages Of India’s Combat Fighters