New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian Air Force has a shortage of around 10 squadrons of combat aircraft after phasing out its MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighter planes. The induction…
The much-awaited induction of five French Rafale fighters to the Indian Air Force witnessed a rare sense of jubilation in the country, beginning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian PM quoted a Sanskrit verse to welcome the induction.
राष्ट्ररक्षासमं पुण्यं,राष्ट्ररक्षासमं व्रतम्,राष्ट्ररक्षासमं यज्ञो,दृष्टो नैव च नैव च।।नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्…स्वागतम्! #RafaleInIndiapic.twitter.com/lSrNoJYqZO
The contract for acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a price of US $8.7 billion was signed in 2016, two years after Modi came to power, to arrest the depleting inventory of the Indian Air Force.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that it “marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History”. Singh received the first Rafale in October 2019 in France.
