Rafale to be inducted into IAF in presence of Rajnath Singh, French minister

CHANDIGARH: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally induct the Rafale aircraft on Thursday at the air force station, Ambala. The aircraft will be part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”.
Union defence minister, Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly, minister of the armed forces of France will be the chief guest for the event. Chief of defence staff, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, defence Secretary Ajay Kumar along with other senior officers of ministry of defence and armed forces will be present to mark a very important milestone in the history of the IAF.

The French delegation will be represented by Emmanuel Lenain Ambassador of France to India, Air General Eric Autellet, Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the French Air Force and other senior officials. A large delegation of senior functionaries of French defence Industries which includes Eric Trappier Chairman and Chief Executive of Dassault Aviation and Eric Beranger, CEO, MBDA will also be present during the ceremony.
Florence Parly Minister of the Armed Forces of France will be given a ceremonial Guard of Honour on arrival at Delhi. At Ambala the program will include ceremonial unveiling of the Rafale aircraft, a traditional ‘Sarva Dharma Puja’, Air Display by Rafale and Tejas aircraft as well as by ‘Sarang Aerobatic Team’. Afterwards, a traditional water cannon salute will be given to the Rafale aircraft. The programme will culminate with the ceremonial induction of Rafale aircraft to 17 Squadron. After the ceremonial events the Indian and French delegation will have a bilateral meeting.
The first five Indian air force Rafale aircraft had arrived at the Ambala airbase from France on July 27. The formal induction ceremony, however, was deferred to ensure that the pilots and crew put their heads down and become integrated with the overall IAF operations at the earliest.