India inducts Rafale jets into IAF's 'Golden Arrows' squadron amid border faceoff with China

In presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly, a Rafale fighter jet flew above the country's oldest Air Force base built in 1919.

Image Credit: UNI

Apart from Rafale, other fighter jets including Russia's Sukhoi-30MKIs participated in the flypast.

The aircraft were inducted into the IAF's airbase with all-religion ceremonies.  

In a direct attack on China, which has repeatedly shown territorial aggression in the last few months amid Covid-19 pandemic, Singh said, "Today, this induction sends a strong message to those who have raised an eye at us. This induction is very crucial, considering the border situation."

Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly unveiling Rafale at Ambala Air Force Station (Image Credit: UNI)

The induction of the Rafale jets occurred just more than a week after the Chinese troops tried to trespass along the Pangong Lake in Ladakh region, escalating the border standoff more than a couple of months after a deadly clash broke out at Galwan valley.

The first batch of the Rafale jets, which has remained a trigger point of a political slugfest in India prior to 2019 General Elections, had arrived in Ambala on Jun 29, two weeks after at least 20 Indian personnel were martyred in the deadly clash with Chinese troops at Galwan in eastern Ladakh.

Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly (Image Credit: UNI)

The five jets are the first tranche of 36 planes which were bought at Rs. 59,000 crore by India from France in 2016.

In India, Congress, the main opposition party, had questioned the central government over why the number of planes to be bought was reduced from its earlier deal of 126 to 36, attempting to paint Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "corrupt" dealmaker.

Rajnath Singh and Florence Parly (Image Credit: UNI)

Though in 2019, then Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had also questioned why industrialist Anil Ambani was chosen as the offset partner with no experience of making fighter planes over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), all speculations were put to rest by the Supreme Court giving the last smile in the face of Modi.