First batch of five Rafale jets flies out of France, to reach India on Wednesday

The jets are scheduled to arrive in India on Wednesday.

The five jets are the first tranche of 36 planes which were bought by India from France in 2016.

The deal, which was later hit by political controversy back in New Delhi, was signed at Rs. 59,000 crore.

The Indian Embassy in France has put a tweet which reads, "Bon Voyage: Indian Ambassador to #France interacts with the Indian pilots of the Rafale. Congratulates and wishes them a safe flight to India with a single hop."

"Beauty and the Beast"- #Rafale Fighter Aircraft. Ready to take off" the Indian Embassy in France tweeted.

The Rafale aircraft will cover a distance of nearly 7,000 kms from France to India with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop en route in UAE. 

The first Rafale fighter was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Oct, 2019 in a ceremony attended by the French Minister for Armed Forces Madame Florence Parly and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. 

In accordance with the contract, IAF pilots and supporting personnel have been provided full training on aircraft and weapon systems by Dassault. 

India's Ambassador to France Jawed Ashraf was there to see off the first batch of Rafale jets. 

The long awaited and much needed two squadrons of Rafale would add great strength to IAF and our defence capabilitiies, Ashraf said.