Rafale training of IAF pilots in France comes to an end, eyes on ‘Lethal 16’ next

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

A Rafale jet at the induction ceremony in Ambala in 2020| Photo: Praveen Jain/ThePrint
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New Delhi: While the training of Indian Air Force pilots and maintenance crew for the Rafale aircraft in France came to an end Wednesday, the second squadron of the fighter will be operationalised earlier than planned.

The second squadron of the fighter jet, named 101 Squadron, will be based in West Bengal’s Hasimara and will take care of the crucial borders with China in the East. The Hasimara air base is also known as the Wing 16 or the ‘Lethal 16’.

The 101 Squadron, also known as the ‘Falcons of the Chhamb and Akhnoor’, was originally planned to be made operational in June but the IAF is now working to ensure it is done earlier.

Incidentally, four more Rafale aircraft have also taken off from France Wednesday and will reach India Thursday, taking the total number of the French fighters to 18 in the country.

The four fighters, which were flagged off by Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, are expected to land at Jamnagar in Gujarat before flying on to the Ambala Air Force Station, which is home to the first squadron of the Rafale, Golden Arrows.

While flagging the aircraft, the Air Force chief, who is on a five-day visit to France, thanked the French government and the industry for ensuring timely delivery of the fighter aircraft, and in some cases earlier than contract despite Covid.

“This marks the end of the training of the third batch pilots and all our maintenance crew. The Rafale training centre has provided world class training and because of this training and quality of training, we were able to operationalise the aircraft fully,” he said.





IAF works towards operationalising second base
With the end of training and new fighters on route, all eyes are now on the second airbase in Hasimara, which is under construction and is expected to be completed next month.

While the IAF had last month said the base would be operationalised by the middle of April, the second wave of the Covid pandemic and heavy rains delayed remaining infrastructure activities.

According to sources in the defence establishment, another batch of the Rafale aircraft will be ferried in the next two weeks, which will become part of the Hasimara air base.

They added that the Commanding Officer of the second squadron will be Group Captain Neeraj Jhamb.

As part of the preparations, the Hasimara air base has been undergoing a number of construction activities including lengthening of the runway.

The 101 Squadron last flew the Soviet-era MiG 21 type 96 aircraft.

The squadron got its name ‘Falcons of Chhamb and Akhnoor’ for its operation in the 1965 India-Pakistan War when they stalled a full-fledged attack by Pakistani armoured columns.

This report has been updated to accurately reflect that a total of 18 Rafale fighters have been delivered to India and the 101 Squadron last flew the MiG 21 type 96 aircraft. The error is regretted.

Rafale training of IAF pilots in France comes to an end, eyes on 'Lethal 16' next

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria also flagged off 4 more Rafale fighters in France that are expected to land in India Thursday, taking the total number of the aircraft to 18.

theprint.in

.

 

[Side-Winder]

Don't forget to thank the PAF for opening the eyes of IAF.

 

[lightoftruth]

Need to have second batch of 36 rafales.

 

[Euro fighter]

The following 4th generation fighters can meet the challenge below

Both The Typhoon & F16/70 are being actively pushed for sales as we speak.

 

[GHALIB]

Don't forget to thank the PAF for opening the eyes of IAF.

why not ? thank you .

 

[TheSnakeEatingMarkhur]

A Rafale jet at the induction ceremony in Ambala in 2020| Photo: Praveen Jain/ThePrint
Text Size: A- A+
New Delhi: While the training of Indian Air Force pilots and maintenance crew for the Rafale aircraft in France came to an end Wednesday, the second squadron of the fighter will be operationalised earlier than planned.

The second squadron of the fighter jet, named 101 Squadron, will be based in West Bengal’s Hasimara and will take care of the crucial borders with China in the East. The Hasimara air base is also known as the Wing 16 or the ‘Lethal 16’.

The 101 Squadron, also known as the ‘Falcons of the Chhamb and Akhnoor’, was originally planned to be made operational in June but the IAF is now working to ensure it is done earlier.

Incidentally, four more Rafale aircraft have also taken off from France Wednesday and will reach India Thursday, taking the total number of the French fighters to 18 in the country.

The four fighters, which were flagged off by Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, are expected to land at Jamnagar in Gujarat before flying on to the Ambala Air Force Station, which is home to the first squadron of the Rafale, Golden Arrows.

While flagging the aircraft, the Air Force chief, who is on a five-day visit to France, thanked the French government and the industry for ensuring timely delivery of the fighter aircraft, and in some cases earlier than contract despite Covid.

“This marks the end of the training of the third batch pilots and all our maintenance crew. The Rafale training centre has provided world class training and because of this training and quality of training, we were able to operationalise the aircraft fully,” he said.





IAF works towards operationalising second base
With the end of training and new fighters on route, all eyes are now on the second airbase in Hasimara, which is under construction and is expected to be completed next month.

While the IAF had last month said the base would be operationalised by the middle of April, the second wave of the Covid pandemic and heavy rains delayed remaining infrastructure activities.

According to sources in the defence establishment, another batch of the Rafale aircraft will be ferried in the next two weeks, which will become part of the Hasimara air base.

They added that the Commanding Officer of the second squadron will be Group Captain Neeraj Jhamb.

As part of the preparations, the Hasimara air base has been undergoing a number of construction activities including lengthening of the runway.

The 101 Squadron last flew the Soviet-era MiG 21 type 96 aircraft.

The squadron got its name ‘Falcons of Chhamb and Akhnoor’ for its operation in the 1965 India-Pakistan War when they stalled a full-fledged attack by Pakistani armoured columns.

This report has been updated to accurately reflect that a total of 18 Rafale fighters have been delivered to India and the 101 Squadron last flew the MiG 21 type 96 aircraft. The error is regretted.

Rafale training of IAF pilots in France comes to an end, eyes on 'Lethal 16' next

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria also flagged off 4 more Rafale fighters in France that are expected to land in India Thursday, taking the total number of the aircraft to 18.

theprint.in

.

16 to inke khuwabo me b itna ata he k wing ka name ee 16 rakhdia

 

[Zapper]

Need to have second batch of 36 rafales.

Very unlikely

 

[lightoftruth]

Very unlikely

Looking at the pattern of past purchases and IAF's love for French hardware I won't be surprised if their will be more than 36 in the follow on order

 

[Zapper]

Looking at the pattern of past purchases and IAF's love for French hardware I won't be surprised if their will be more than 36 in the follow on order

This has nothing to do with the pattern nor IAF's affinity towards French systems. It's about availability of funds and IAF's current requirement to fill in the dwindling numbers. Rafale is among the most expensive fighter jets out there. Even if we're able to afford it and go ahead for another order, the timeline to negotiate another contract, release of funds with our current covid economy, French starting the production of another batch will set us back another decade or so. Not to mention, IAF/MoD would want the next fighters to be MII and if so...will further push back the timeline.

This will also result in deviating the funds for MWF and AMCA further delaying those projects. Also, IAF has enough twin engine fighters and is looking at single engined jets, primarily the MWF which will replace a majority of the aircrafts currently being retired

 

[ziaulislam]

S

A Rafale jet at the induction ceremony in Ambala in 2020| Photo: Praveen Jain/ThePrint
Text Size: A- A+
New Delhi: While the training of Indian Air Force pilots and maintenance crew for the Rafale aircraft in France came to an end Wednesday, the second squadron of the fighter will be operationalised earlier than planned.

The second squadron of the fighter jet, named 101 Squadron, will be based in West Bengal’s Hasimara and will take care of the crucial borders with China in the East. The Hasimara air base is also known as the Wing 16 or the ‘Lethal 16’.

The 101 Squadron, also known as the ‘Falcons of the Chhamb and Akhnoor’, was originally planned to be made operational in June but the IAF is now working to ensure it is done earlier.

Incidentally, four more Rafale aircraft have also taken off from France Wednesday and will reach India Thursday, taking the total number of the French fighters to 18 in the country.

The four fighters, which were flagged off by Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, are expected to land at Jamnagar in Gujarat before flying on to the Ambala Air Force Station, which is home to the first squadron of the Rafale, Golden Arrows.

While flagging the aircraft, the Air Force chief, who is on a five-day visit to France, thanked the French government and the industry for ensuring timely delivery of the fighter aircraft, and in some cases earlier than contract despite Covid.

“This marks the end of the training of the third batch pilots and all our maintenance crew. The Rafale training centre has provided world class training and because of this training and quality of training, we were able to operationalise the aircraft fully,” he said.





IAF works towards operationalising second base
With the end of training and new fighters on route, all eyes are now on the second airbase in Hasimara, which is under construction and is expected to be completed next month.

While the IAF had last month said the base would be operationalised by the middle of April, the second wave of the Covid pandemic and heavy rains delayed remaining infrastructure activities.

According to sources in the defence establishment, another batch of the Rafale aircraft will be ferried in the next two weeks, which will become part of the Hasimara air base.

They added that the Commanding Officer of the second squadron will be Group Captain Neeraj Jhamb.

As part of the preparations, the Hasimara air base has been undergoing a number of construction activities including lengthening of the runway.

The 101 Squadron last flew the Soviet-era MiG 21 type 96 aircraft.

The squadron got its name ‘Falcons of Chhamb and Akhnoor’ for its operation in the 1965 India-Pakistan War when they stalled a full-fledged attack by Pakistani armoured columns.

This report has been updated to accurately reflect that a total of 18 Rafale fighters have been delivered to India and the 101 Squadron last flew the MiG 21 type 96 aircraft. The error is regretted.

Rafale training of IAF pilots in France comes to an end, eyes on 'Lethal 16' next

Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria also flagged off 4 more Rafale fighters in France that are expected to land in India Thursday, taking the total number of the aircraft to 18.

theprint.in

.

Strong PTSD weird name why is this named as wing 16/ falcon of the..