New Delhi: At least five Rafale fighter jets will take off from Mérignac in France on Monday to arrive in India on Wednesday and, if necessary, these planes can also be operationally deployed within a week amid the India-China standoff in Ladakh, ThePrint has learned.
According to sources within the defense and security establishment, a total of 12 Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots have been fully trained on the fighter plane, which is considered a game changer in the region with its unmatched firepower.
Several other pilots are completing their training in France – the contract stipulates that a total of 36 pilots will be trained by the French authorities, including those who will undergo training in India.
While in an official statement, the IAF said five planes would land on Wednesday, as ThePrint reported on June 29, the figure could be six.
« The exact number of planes that will take off will not be known until Monday. The IAF said five would land in India on July 29, but that number could even be six, ”a source said.
According to the contract signed in September 2016, 12 planes are supposed to be delivered each year.
The French defense major Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the Rafale jets, had since October last year handed over a total of nine aircraft to the IAF. The 10 is currently undergoing acceptance tests by IAF pilots in France.
The source also added that the plane can be operationally deployed, if necessary, “within a week”.
Under normal circumstances, it takes at least six months for a full operational deployment.
However, according to a source, these are “extraordinary times”.
“The pilots were in training mode until now. They should now be in combat mode, which takes time as they have to get used to the plane with several combat training flights. However, extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. If necessary, the aircraft can be operationally deployed within a week of arrival or even the same day. But it is the case, ”he said.
Also read: IAF to enthrone 5 Rafale fighters on July 29 in Ambala, their first mission could be in Ladakh
The flight plan: from France to India
According to the plan, the Rafale fighters will take off from Mérignac, where Dassault Aviation’s production site is located.
They will fly directly to the French Al Dhafra air base near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for a night stopover.
It would be a 10 hour trip and these fighters would be accompanied by two French Air Force inflight refuellers.
Sources noted that there would be two rounds of in-flight refueling to complete the trip.
They added that the pilots had undergone specialized training for in-flight refueling through the Airbus 330 multipurpose airlift (MRTT) that the French use.
This was not originally part of the training module since the IAF uses the Russian IL-78 aircraft for in-flight refueling.
Although the distance to the United Arab Emirates can be covered by the Rafale in a much shorter time, they will have to keep pace with the tankers.
After the night stopover, the jets will take off for Ambala in Haryana, where the 17th Squadron of the IAF, the “Golden Arrows” is located, home of the first Rafale fighter squadron.
Initially, the plane was to arrive after stopovers in several countries. However, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, that meant pilots would have to be quarantined at every base.
Additionally, growing tensions at the borders with China meant that the IAF could not wait for fighters to be delayed.
Missiles on Rafale aircraft
India has approached France to speed up the delivery of the Rafales, given the border tensions. The jets were not originally due to arrive until October of this year.
The French government then diverted a first batch of advanced missiles destined for its own air force to India.
The missiles, which have already arrived at the Ambala base, include the Meteor air-to-air missile, manufactured by the European company MBDA.
The Meteor costs about Rs 20 crore each, and is a very long-range rocket and a ram-powered air-to-air missile. With a range of about 150 km, the missile can attack an enemy aircraft without even crossing Indian airspace.
Neither China nor Pakistan have a missile to counter this capability of the IAF.
Another key missile on board is the 1,300kg and 5.1-meter-long Scalp, which can be carried in a missile or two-missile configuration on the Rafale.
The air-to-surface missile costs around Rs 40 crore each and is also manufactured by the MBDA. It has a range of 600 km and is renowned for its precision.
The Rafale will not have to cross Indian airspace to reach a target of approximately 600 km in enemy territory and can be used in penetration, impact or explosion mode.
It is intended to strike deep even in restricted access areas and in an area denial scenario – which aims to prevent the opponent from entering their territory.
In view of the situation in Ladakh with China, the IAF also led the emergency purchase of the HAMMER air-to-surface missile with a range of approximately 60 km.
The original plan was to integrate the Israeli Spice 2000 into the Rafale aircraft, but focusing on the early operational deployment of the Rafale, the decision was made to purchase the HAMMER, which the Rafale is already configured to fire.
The other missile that the Rafale would carry is the air-to-air MICA, which was also deployed on the Mirage 2000.
Also read: For rapid deployment of the Rafale, the IAF opts for the HAMMER weapon system, not the Israeli Spice 2000 system
https://www.fr24news.com/a/2020/07/...orrow-could-be-operational-within-a-week.html