New Delhi, September 9
In the midst of a political firestorm over the Rafale jet deal, the Indian Air Force is quietly making preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots, to welcome the fighter aircraft, official sources said.
They said the IAF is sending a batch of pilots by the end of this year to France for training on Rafale jets.
A number of IAF teams have already visited France to help Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, incorporate India-specific enhancements on-board the fighter aircraft.
Sources said Dassault Aviation had already started test flight of the fighter jets to be supplied to India and the company had been told to strictly adhere to the timeline for delivery of the aircraft.
The jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems among others. The Congress has raised several questions about the deal, including rates of the aircraft, while the government has rejected the charges. Officials said the government had already sanctioned around Rs 400 crore to develop required infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases. France had been regularly briefing India about progress in the project to supply the jets.
In July last year, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, during his France visit, flew a Rafale jet at the Saint-Dizier airbase to gain a first-hand experience of the aircraft. According to the deal, the delivery of the jets will start in 36 months and will be completed in 67 months from the date the contract was inked. — PTI
Indian Pilots to visit France for training
- In September 2016, India had inked a deal with France to procure 36 Rafale jets at Rs 58,000 crore
- The delivery is scheduled in September next year and will be completed in 67 months from date of pact
- IAF pilots have already trained on the jets in France and will again go there by the year-end, say sources
- First squadron is likely to be deployed in Ambala, second at Hasimara in West Bengal