India will have received all of the aircraft it had ordered as part of a deal worth over Rs 60,000 crore that was signed in 2016 by December 15. This includes the 36th and final Rafale fighter jet that France will deliver to India.
“The last aircraft will arrive in India around December 15. The aircraft was used for developing the India-specific enhancements in the Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force,” senior defence officials said.
36 of these aircraft were purchased by India; 35 of them have already arrived and are based in Hashimara, West Bengal, Ambala, and Haryana.
The 36th aircraft, with RB tail number, was reportedly given to the Indian side by France with all of its spare parts and other components replaced because it was being utilised for research and development.
In the meantime, the Indian Air Force has been bringing the aircraft up to the highest standards and outfitting them with all the improvements made specifically for India.
With its long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, cutting-edge radar, and electronic warfare capabilities, the Rafale is an aircraft from the 4.5 generation that has helped India regain control over the skies over its sub-constitutional territories.
The aircraft with a serviceability rate of over 75% are also maintained by the French company Dassault Aviation.
At the height of the confrontation with China, the Rafale was quickly recruited into the Indian Air Force and had begun flying over Ladakh within a week of its arrival.
The long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles and the Scalp air-to-ground missiles were also soon launched and made operational by the IAF.
The HAMMER missile was also introduced by the IAF to the Rafale’s arsenal since it was necessary for carrying out precise attacks at closer ranges.