New Delhi: The second batch of Rafale fighter jets — likely to be four in number — is set to arrive at the Ambala Air Force Station in October as part of the Rs 59,000-crore deal with the French government, according to indications.
“The next set of fighters, which are likely to be four in number, will arrive in the country in October,” a source said.
Five Rafale jets, including two twin-seaters, had landed on July 27 at the Ambala Air Force Station, home of the first squadron of the French fighters.
They had flown about 8,500 km from Merignac in France, with a stopover in UAE.
Known as the 4.5 generation aircraft, the Rafale is considered to be one of the finest fighters in the world and is described as an ‘omnirole’ aircraft that can take up several missions on a single flight.
While India had ordered 36 Rafale fighters in 2016, the numbers are just too small for the IAF, which at present has a strength of 31 squadrons as against the sanctioned one of 42 Squadrons.
Even though the IAF is supposed to come out with a Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) 2.0 for 114 fighters, work on it has been rather slow with a formal tender yet to be issued.
