First Five Rafales Depart for India; More A330s for France | Aviation International News

First Five Rafales Depart for India; More A330s for France

Nearly four years after contract signature, the first five Dassault Rafales for India are due to touch down in the country.

A Rafale EH fighter takes off from Bordeaux-Mérignac for the first, seven-hour stage of the two-leg delivery flight from France to India. (Photo: Dassault)

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

July 28, 2020

Five Rafales took off from Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac factory airfield on July 27 at the start of their ferry flight to India, where they were expected to arrive on July 29. The journey is being conducted in two stages, with the aircraft having arrived safely for a planned stop at Al Dhafra air base in Abu Dhabi, from where the French air force operates a detachment of Rafales.

The Indian aircraft—three Rafale EH single-seaters and a pair of DH two-seaters—are the first to be delivered from an order for 36, which was signed on September 23, 2016. They are arriving at a time of heightened tension with China along the disputed border in eastern Ladakh. Deliveries of all 36 are due to be completed by the end of 2021.

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