#rafale planes india. rafale arrive india

[usafphantom2]

Dassault will prioritize Rafale jets and UCAVs ahead of FCAS

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/01/2023 - 08:31am Military

The president of the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation said this week that he will prioritize the production of Rafale fighters in the near future to meet new orders.

CEO Eric Trappier said that the company's supply meets the current needs of the military.

"The Rafale F5 is currently the main priority of Dassault Aviation, long before the future FCAS combat air system (SCAF in French) and combat drones (UCAVs) such as the nEUROn," Trapier said on August 29.

Trappier said that Rafale jets offer an alternative in favor of France for those who do not want to buy Russian and American aircraft, BFMTV reported.

Saying that they have orders until 2032, he noted that they will focus on increasing the production of Rafale warplanes.

The lowest priority given by Dassault to FCAS confirms the impression given by the company at the Paris air show in June.

The sixth-generation FCAS under development by Dassault.

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the European air defense system on which Germany, France and Spain are working together, is another long-term goal of the company, he added.

Dassault began working on a demonstration aircraft at its headquarters in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Cloud, with German and Spanish teams. Dassault leads the New Generation Fighter (NGF) component of the program.

The FCAS is expected to enter service in 2040.

Combat drone nEUROn.

But for Eric Trappier, the priority remains the future F5 standard of his Rafale fighter.

"It will arrive after 2030, then there are the drones. So, the future fighter planes will come after that. We are in this for the short term, the medium term and the very long term," explains Eric Trappier.

Recently, India announced its intention to buy 26 Rafale M for its naval aviation, and another 18 were ordered by Indonesia, bringing total export sales to date to 311 aircraft.

This represents twice the export sales of Eurofighter (151 aircraft), Saab Gripen (102 aircraft including those in long-term lease) and Boeing Super Hornet (48 aircraft).

Tags: Military AviationDassault AviationDassault RafaleFCAS - Future Combat Air System/Future Air Combat SystemnEUROn

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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[unpluggedtv]

In July 2020, the first batch of five Rafale jets arrived at the Air Force Station in Ambala. According to a government announcement at the time, these were to be part of the 17th Squadron, the "Golden Arrows," which had been revived the previous year. Next month, they will be formally inducted into the IAF.

"The Rafale contract was a game changer for India's national security, and its induction sends a powerful statement to the rest of the globe," Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said at the time. The Rafale deal, worth over $9 billion, was signed to add more jets to the IAF arsenal.

In February, India obtained three of the last four fighter planes. France turned over

Read More: https://unpluggedtv.in/iaf-submits-report-of-last-of-36-rafale-jets-says-pack-is-complete/

#Rafale #rafalesolodisplay #jetsetter indian.air.force Indian Air Force Indian Air Force (Be an Air Warrior) Airmen Training School Belgaum Airmen Training School Belgaum Indian Air Force Fans

[squarwell-breakingnews]

"Proud To See All 36 Rafales On India's Soil": French Envoy

“Proud To See All 36 Rafales On India’s Soil”: French Envoy

India had signed a deal for 36 of these planes and 35 of them have already arrived New Delhi: French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain today said that he is proud to see 36 rafales with full equipment after all the ‘Rafales’ landed on Indian soil. Taking to Twitter, Mr Lenain said, “Proud to see all 36 Rafales on India’s soil and fully equipped with India-specific enhancements.” This statement…

[newslobster]

"Proud To See All 36 Rafales On India's Soil": French Envoy

“Proud To See All 36 Rafales On India’s Soil”: French Envoy

India had signed a deal for 36 of these planes and 35 of them have already arrived New Delhi: French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain today said that he is proud to see 36 rafales with full equipment after all the ‘Rafales’ landed on Indian soil. Taking to Twitter, Mr Lenain said, “Proud to see all 36 Rafales on India’s soil and fully equipped with India-specific enhancements.” This statement…

[sassylightpuppy]

The growing strength of the Indian Air Force Three warplanes will arrive today to bolster the Indian Air Force. According to reports, three warplanes will land at Ambala Airbase this evening. The three planes will cover seven thousand kilometers from France to India. These planes will be fueled only in the air during flights in the UAE. It is worth mentioning that 36 Rafale aircraft have been signed between France and India. Of these, 21 have been handed over to India. But so far only 11 aircraft have arrived in India. Apart from the three flights coming to India today, five more Rafale jets will arrive in India by the end of April. In addition, all 36 aircraft will be distributed to India by 2022. Five more aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of April.

[newsmatters]

Major boost for IAF, 10 Rafales to join in one month

Major boost for IAF, 10 Rafales to join in one month

In a major boost for the Indian Air Force’s firepower, at least 10 new Rafale fighter aircraft would be joining its fighter fleet leading to the formation of the second squadron of the planes. The new additions would increase the number of these planes to 21 as already 11 of these planes are flying with the Ambala-based 17 Squadron. “Three Rafale fighters would be arriving in India in next two…

[usafphantom2]

India agrees to acquire the 26 Rafale fighters and three Scorpene submarines from France 🇫🇷

Agreement should be signed today during the Bastille Day celebrations in France.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 14/07/2023 - 08:51am Military

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, the Indian Ministry of Defense finally authorized the purchase of the 26 Rafale Marines and three long-awaited Scorpene submarines from France.

The choice of Rafale Marine follows a competition between the French aircraft and the U.S. F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter to equip the Indian Navy's STOBAR aircraft carriers.

The announcement came the day before the national holiday of July 14 and its traditional military parade, of which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the guest of honor.

The Defense Acquisition Council of India approved the two acquisition proposals, the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The price, as well as other conditions, have not yet been negotiated with the French government.

India is currently looking to replace the old MiG-29K in its naval air fleet, in accordance with the desire of the Indian government to increase the strength of its military forces. Located in the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, India has an extensive coastline, open to a maritime area through which much of international trade passes. The maritime and naval air power of New Delhi is a great challenge for Despite many differences, on human rights or the war in Ukraine, Western democracies are courting Narendra Modi because her country represents a counterweight to China in the region.

However, India wanted planes capable of taking off on its INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. Equipped with a STOBAR system - with hooked landing, but without a catapult to take off the planes - few planes were therefore compatible with the Indian aircraft carrier. Thus, a competition was held in December 2022 between the only two aircraft corresponding to the criteria defined by India: the North American F/A-18 Super Hornet and the French Rafale Marine.

The IAC1 Vikrant aircraft carrier.

Long awaited, the result of this competition has been the subject of much speculation. Observers or even internal sources of the Indian military authorities gave the winning Rafale and predicted the conclusion of an agreement between Paris and New Delhi, without any official confirmation of this agreement.

Discussions about these long-awaited agreements will take into account “all relevant aspects, including comparative prices for the acquisition of similar aircraft by other countries,” the statement said. As for submarines, India has already bought 6 of the Scorpene class from France.

The press release from the Ministry of the Armed Forces of India specifies about the submarines that the three newcomers to the Indian fleet will be built "with greater indigenous content" by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, near Mumbai. This condition implies "significant employment opportunities in the national sector".

Previously, India had already announced a contract worth about 4.0 billion euros (at the time) for 36 Rafales in 2015. The first batch of five aircraft departed from France for India at the end of July 2020 to be included in Squadron No. 17 'Golden Arrows' at Ambala Air Force Station. The last aircraft of this order arrived in India in December 2022.

The naval variant was previously ordered by France, which ended up buying 42 and has been flying since 2002. This makes India the first exporting country of this variant.

A Rafale from the Indian Air Force.

France has thus won a new heavy contract for its successful fighter and strengthens its military-industrial ties with a country that it defines as one of the pillars of its strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

If it is really the last Rafale that India acquires, it remains to be seen. In October 2022, it became clear that India is looking for another 114 new 'multifunctional combat jets'. Several manufacturers from Europe, Russia and the United States are on the scene for this. India requires bidders to allow the domestic assembly of 96 of the 114 aircraft.

Tags: Military AviationDassault Rafale MIndian Navy

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[techno-kidda]

we have been waiting for 22 years. With the arrival of French Fighter Rafale in the country, the country has got a new fighter plane. This Rafale will be a part of the Ambala.

[sharmaheena850]

Second batch of three Rafale fighter jets arrive in India

A second batch of three Rafale fighter jets arrived at Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat on Wednesday evening after flying non-stop from Istres airbase in France, taking the total number of aircraft in the fleet to eight, officials said.

This is nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.

 The first batch of Rafale jets was inducted into the IAF on September 10. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on October 5 said that the induction of all 36 Rafale jets will be completed by 2023.

These are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.The newly inducted fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a bitter border row for over five months.

The Rafale aircraft flew for over eight hours before landing at an IAF base. They covered a distance of over 3700 nautical miles with three in-flight refuellings. Read More

[ndtvindia24hrs]

The second batch of Rafael jets comes after flying non-stop from France

The second batch of Rafael jets comes after flying non-stop from France

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The first batch arrived in India on July 29 (File)

new Delhi:

The second batch of Rafale jets – the first Western fighter aircraft to join the fleet after 23 years of Sukhoi aircraft from Russia – have arrived in India, the Air Force tweeted this evening. The jets covered the 7,000 km long non-stop flying from France after the three planes landed.

The delivery began nearly…

[zishanazizworld]

Three more Rafale planes from France will arrive in India on November 5

[usafphantom2]

Super Hornet conducts ski-jump launch tests in India

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 06/01/2022 - 12:00 PM in Military

The Indian Navy is looking for a new fighter for its aircraft carriers. With the Dassault Rafale M and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, two types are in the final selection. The latter is currently having to prove in Goa that he can handle ski-jumps, a crucial requirement.

Since 2013, the Indian Navy has had its own aircraft carrier, the 283-meter "Vikramaditya", which was acquired by Russia. Soon, this will be complemented by the aircraft carrier "Vikrant", which is widely built by India itself. The new aircraft carrier, which is about 250 meters long, is currently being tested. The "Vishal" is the third planned aircraft carrier of the same class as the Vikrant that should be developed in the future.

The aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

What unites the three ships is the construction of the deck that is designed according to the "Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery" principle (STOBAR). Conveyor aircraft do not start, as in U.S. aircraft carriers, with the help of a catapult - but through a ramp on the bow of the ship, or ski-jump. Braking at landing is conventionally done with safety cables.

MiG-29K on board the INS Vikramaditya.

With the MiG-29K purchased from Russia, the Indian Navy has a fighter model that can handle STOBAR decks very well. But in the past, MiGs have stood out mainly with their low operational readiness. Several planes were even lost in accidents. This led the Indian government to look for a Western counterpart. The focus is now on the Dassault Rafale M from France and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from the USA. According to reports, there are about 26 aircraft that India wants to acquire. But only one type of jet will be chosen.

Super Hornet tests with ski-jump on Patuxent River.

The most important prerequisite for the victory of both candidates is proof that they are suitable for the STOBAR procedure. Boeing risked the first ramp takeoff with the Super Hornet in the fall of 2020 on Patuxent River (Maryland). Dassault brought Rafale M to India in late January 2022 to demonstrate the STOBAR capabilities of live hunting to Indian decision makers. Now, the U.S. competitor is in India, when last week two F/A-18E borrowed from the Navy began testing under the strict observation of Indian authorities, at the ground testing facilities (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa and will last more than a week.

Arrival of the two Super Hornets fighters in India.

In the next tests, the Super Hornets should take off in ski-jump tests, initially without payload and then with two Harpoon inert missiles under the wings. At the same time, Boeing wants to use discussions and comparisons to explain to Indians why the U.S. product would be a better choice for the Indian Navy than the Rafale M.

Although the choice of the Rafale may seem the most advantageous, as it was also bought by the Indian Air Force, rumors say that the Super Hornet is at the top thanks to the less space it needs to park. Compared to the F/A-18, the Rafale does not have the ability to bend its wings.

According to the North American manufacturer, the F/A-18E can also carry more weapons than its French competitor. Another positive point is interoperability with other American equipment that India owns or has ordered - such as the Boeing P-8I Neptune or the Sikorsky MH-60 Romeo. In addition, the two-seater F/A-18F should also be suitable for ramp launches and aircraft carrier missions, while France uses only its ground-based two-seater Rafale B with the French Air and Space Force. The talks should also include the participation of the Indian arms industry in the project.

According to its manufacturers, the Super Hornet engine has a thrust of 97.9kN against Rafale's 70kN (values for a single post-combustor engine). The F414 engine will also be installed on India's next LCA MK-2 fighter. However, as history has shown, political considerations and the reliability of defense partners can make or break Indian defense agreements.

Boeing had also previously offered the opportunity to manufacture Super Hornets in India, if its aircraft were chosen.

Tags: Military AviationboeingF/A-18E/F Super HornetIndian Navy

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation

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[bbcbreakingnews]

If China can get aggressive at LAC, so can we: IAF chief

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief RKS Bhadauria on Saturday said that eight Rafale aircrafts have already arrived in India and another three are expected by the end of January. The Air Chief Marshal made the statement while addressing the press during the exercise Desert Knight-2021. India and France are currently conducting a joint exercise – Desert Knight 2021 – in Jodhpur from January 20-24. This drill involving recently-acquired French Rafale fighter jets comes at a time when Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. On the possibility of the Chinese getting aggressive along the LAC, the IAF chief said, “If they can be aggressive, we can also be aggressive.” “Rafale is a serious contender for our project to buy 114 multirole fighter aircraft,” he added. The Chief of Air Staff also said that India has initiated its fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) under Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) aircraft project. “We would like to add sixth-generation capabilities in that but we would like to first focus on the fifth-generation fighter aircraft,” the IAF Chief added. Speaking of the bonhomie between the two nations on the sidelines, the French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said, “India and France have been side-by-side in both good and bad times.” “When India decided to conduct nuclear test in Pokhran, we were on your side as we understand your strategic autonomy,” he added. The Desert Knight-2021 exercise will see India and France deploy fighters, transport planes and mid-air refueling aircraft with the aim “to provide operational exposure and share best practices towards enhancing combat capabilities”, officials said earlier.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2021/01/23/if-china-can-get-aggressive-at-lac-so-can-we-iaf-chief/

[the24times]

French-made Rafale fighter jet during its induction ceremony at the Indian Air Force Station in Ambala, India, Thursday, Sept.10, 2020. The first batch of five planes, part of a $8.78 billion deal signed between the two countries in 2016 had arrived here in July. (Photo: AFP) Source: #indiatoday #Rafale #RafaleInduction #FighterJets #IAF #RajnathSingh #Ambala #the24times (at India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE8-zIEF4QC/?igshid=qr3ohkyq7x9c

[xtruss]

ARGUMENT

Rafale Jets Won’t Save India’s Air Force

Thanks to decades of underinvestment, the force has lost its edge over its increasingly aggressive rivals. A few more planes won’t fix that.

Technical merits aside, India’s order for only 36 Rafale jets was clearly a bow to fiscal realities. And, on its own, the fleet will not fix India’s comparatively diminished air capabilities.

BY HARSH V. PANT, ANGAD SINGH | AUGUST 10, 2020 | Foreign Policy

Workers put final touches on a model of a Rafale fighter jet ahead of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Jan 22. Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

The first five of India’s new Rafale fighter aircraft touched down in country on July 29. According to the terms of a 2016 contract with the French manufacturer Dassault, 31 more will follow. They will go some way toward filling India’s larger requirement of 126 such jets. The Indian Air Force has long needed refurbishing, but it has been perennially delayed both by New Delhi’s infamous bureaucratic red tape and by budgetary issues. Now, the arrival of the new fighters—the first in over 20 years—in the middle of an unprecedented border face-off against China, will be a boost for Indian military capability as well as morale. But it won’t do much to change the hard reality that, as an air power, India is falling far behind.

The Indian Air Force has historically been one of the best-equipped air forces in the region, but it has seen its advantage, both qualitative and quantitative, against China and Pakistan narrow dramatically over the past two decades. Even worse, it now faces the challenge of mustering enough aircraft to tackle any possible collusion between the Pakistani and Chinese air forces. Related to tensions in Ladakh, China seems to be activating air platforms in its Tibetan airfields. And along the border with Pakistan, the Pakistan Air Force recently conducted an air exercise out of the Skardu base in Gilgit-Baltistan. Taken together, those are tough challenges for an underequipped air force to take on.

The Rafale may help somewhat. After decades of fielding upgraded legacy fighters and struggling to develop contemporary jets, the Rafale finally provides the Indian Air Force with a comprehensive combat craft that requires very little further tinkering. Unlike any previous procurements, the Rafale fighters’ capabilities are already up to par, and small enhancements will be relatively easy and cheap via the so-called India-specific enhancements.

These India-specific changes are being carried out under a concurrent design, modification, testing, and certification program carried out by Dassault. The modifications involve a mix of hardware and software changes, including an improved infrared search-and-track capability, the addition of an Israeli helmet-mounted display and sight system, changes to the electronically scanned radar, a new device for jamming low-band radio frequencies, integration of an Israeli-created decoy system, an upgraded radar altimeter, expanded navigation aids, and a more robust cold start system for the engines to make them suitable for winter operations from the Air Force’s Himalayan bases. Once all changes are tested and certified in 2021, the entire Indian Rafale fleet will be updated. This allows Dassault to keep producing fighters at an economical rate and the Air Force to induct jets and train personnel in an organized manner, while still ensuring that the final aircraft does not compromise on the original capability requirements.

Technical merits aside, India’s order for only 36 Rafale jets was clearly a bow to fiscal realities.Technical merits aside, India’s order for only 36 Rafale jets was clearly a bow to fiscal realities. And, on its own, the fleet will not fix India’s comparatively diminished air capabilities. Against a government-approved strength of 42 fighter squadrons, the Indian Air Force currently operates only 31. By 2024, the force will shed the last of its MiG-21 squadrons and add only two or three replacement squadrons over the same period, taking the Air Force down to 30 squadrons as it approaches the quarter mark of this century. Yet the length of India’s restive borders has not changed, nor has the scale of the military challenge posed by Pakistan and China. No matter how advanced the Rafale or how effective its long-range weaponry, the addition of 36 jets will not dramatically alter the balance of power in the region.

After all, China’s Western Theater Command that directly faces India comprises some 200 fighter aircraft, a mix of legacy and modern types. While not a large number, and certainly hampered by the limited number of usable bases close to the border with India, the flexibility inherent to all air power means that a large portion of the rest of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force could be brought to bear against Indian forces in short order should the need arise. The Pakistan Air Force, similarly comprising a mix of older and newer aircraft, has around 350 fighters it can put up against India. Unlike China, Pakistan has few operating restrictions relating to bases and aircraft performance. Taken together, as all worst-case Indian military planning scenarios do, the Pakistani and Chinese air forces far outnumber India’s and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. More crucially, both these air forces operate a greater number of airborne tankers and early-warning surveillance aircraft than the Air Force. These so-called force multipliers dramatically increase the combat effectiveness of tactical fighters by extending their range or endurance and improving situational awareness in the aerial battlespace.

The Indian Air Force has repeatedly sought to invest in its own force multipliers but has always ended up stymied by funding issues or procurement rules. While budgetary pressures are unavoidable, particularly in recent years as Indian economic growth has slowed, the Air Force has been bereft of comprehensive and sustainable recapitalization efforts for the better part of 20 years. A troop level-focused, army-centric approach to national defense has denied the air and maritime branches not only financial support but also the political attention key to pushing through reforms and procurements that would address long-standing capability issues. As China moves toward a leaner, more technology-centric military, India will have no choice but to force through changes in its own military to keep pace. If not, Ladakh might be the first of many confrontations where New Delhi is forced to cede ground to Beijing.

[maharajnews]

Great News For India IAF eyes 230 more jets | Keen on raising squadron strength to 42 from 31 Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 29 Sukhoi Escort & Water Cannon Salute Two Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets escort 5 Rafales into India Rafales get water cannon salute on landing in Ambala at 3.10 pm These will be inducted into No. 17 Squadron, the ‘Golden Arrows’ Rs59,000-cr aircraft deal was inked in 2016 for 36 Rafales 5 still in France for training; all 36 to arrive by 2023 Around 3 pm when the first lot of Rafale fighter jets touched down at the Indian Air Force base, Ambala, on Wednesday, it marked an incremental increase in the arc of operations and capability to strike. The five jets, part of the 36 ordered from Dassault Aviation of France, arrived to a rousing welcome. They are the first step to building up the IAF strength to 42 fighter jet squadrons (16-18 jets in each). The IAF currently has 31 squadrons, including five with MiG-21s, which should have been ideally decommissioned by now. The Indian forces assess a need for 42 squadrons (some 18 planes in each) to tackle a two-front war with Pakistan and China simultaneously. The remaining 31 Rafales will be delivered progressively till May 2023 or over the next 34 months. Also, 20 LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas will be inducted over the next two years, which will be added to the existing fleet of 20 Tejas fighters. Besides the Rafales and Tejas, the IAF will be looking for 230 other jets to make good the shortfall. As an immediate measure, India has gone back to its long-standing military ally Russia to order an additional 33 fighter jets. These will include 21 MiG 29, adding to the existing fleet of 59 jets. The purchase and the upgrade of the existing fleet will cost Rs 7,418 crore ($1billion approx). In addition, New Delhi is buying 12 Sukhoi 30 MKI. India has a sanction #news #trendingnews #india #rafale #airforce #indianairforce #indianairforce🇮🇳 #news #trending #new #jio #relince #mukeshambani #rich #richest #india #mumbai #bbc #aajtak #nitaambani #jeffbezos #billgates #markzuckerberg #warrenbuffet #elonmusk #petrol #design @samarthshreyakar (at New Delhi, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDQbGWbnp5W/?igshid=1jm5d500r0cjc