 |
| Image source:-google| Image by:- THE WIRE |
Rafale
Rafale Rafale to land in India on 27 July, will be combat-ready early as France diverts missiles
Amid India’s ongoing border standoff with China, at least four Rafale fighter jets are now scheduled to land in Ambala on 27 July, and will be ready for combat earlier than expected as the French have diverted an initial lot of cutting edge missiles meant for its own air force to India, ThePrint has learnt.
Rafale jets will take off from Istres and fly to French airbase in UAE before landing in Ambala. French air refuellers will carry out 2 mid-air refuelling of the fighters till UAE.
The date worked out between India and France is July 27 for the delivery of the aircraft. Four aircraft will come for sure while an attempt is being made to ensure that a total of six jets come,” said a source.
The fighters will be flown by Indian pilots and will fly straight for 10 hours (Al Dhafra). It will have a halt for the night and next day fly to Ambala,” another source told ThePrint.
The initial plan was that the aircraft would arrive after layovers in multiple countries. However, the Covid pandemic meant that the pilots would have to undergo quarantine at each base, said the sources.
It has now been decided that two French Airbus mid-air refuellers will fly with the jets. There would be at least two rounds of mid-air refuelling on the way to UAE, the sources said.
Indian mid-air refuellers will take charge the next day for the journey to Ambala. Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are now getting trained in France for refuelling. This was not part of the original training, said the sources.
The bird is also equipped with technology that enables laser guidance for missiles. Cost: India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore
size of rafale fighter jets
Wing span10.90m
Length15.30 m
Height5.30 m
Performances
Max. thrust2 x 7.5 t
Limit load factors-3.2 g / +9 g
Max. speedM = 1.8 / 750 knots
Approach speedless than 120 knots
Landing ground run450 m (1,500 ft) without drag-chute
Service ceiling 50,000 ft
Overall empty weight10 t (22,000 lbs)
classMax. take-off weight24.5 t (54,000 lbs)
Fuel
(internal)
4.7 t (10,300 lbs)
Fuel
(external)
up to 6.7 t (14,700 lbs)
External load9.5 t (21,000 lbs)
The contract India and France signed in September 2016 had said the Rafale delivery would take place in May 2020, and the main weapons package would arrive in October, said the sources.
However, following a request, France has diverted the missiles made for its air force to India. These have started arriving already.
These missiles include the beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Meteor, which has the capability to hit targets over 120 km away, and the long range air-to-ground stand-off cruise missile, SCALP, which can strike targets 600 km away.
“This means that the Rafale could be combat-ready much earlier than expected. The Meteor and SCALP have already been integrated with the Rafales which are coming in,” another source said.
The integration of Meteor into the Rafale weapons system means an Indian Rafale would be able to shoot down an enemy aircraft over 100 km away without even crossing the Indian air space.
The 5.1-metre-long SCALP can be carried in either one missile or two missiles configuration on the Rafale. Its inclusion means Indian Rafales would not have to cross the Indian airspace to hit a target that is about 600 km in enemy territory.
