First 6 Rafales by July-end, to be based in Ambala

New Delhi, June 29

India is likely to receive the first batch of six Rafale jets by July-end and the planes will be based at Ambala, a base geographically positioned to counter threats from both western and northern fronts.

On June 2, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had held a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart Florence Parly and it was conveyed to India that the jets would be delivered as scheduled despite the Covid pandemic.

The planes are expected to significantly boost India’s combat capability.

The scalp missile fitted onto the jets provides a range of 560 km to hit ground targets. It can also fire the Meteor air-to-air missile. — TNS