Air force acquires 22 new fighter jets more coming
That's exciting news! The Indian Air Force (IAF) has indeed acquired 22 new fighter jets, and more are on the way. Here are some details:
The Acquisition: The IAF has acquired 22 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation, with the first batch of five jets arriving in India in July 2020. The remaining 17 jets are expected to be delivered by 2023.
The Rafale Fighter Jet: The Rafale is a multirole fighter jet, capable of performing various tasks such as air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and reconnaissance missions. It's powered by two M88 engines and has a top speed of over Mach 1.8 (around 1,800 km/h or 1,100 mph).
Features: The Rafale jets acquired by the IAF come equipped with advanced features such as:
- AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which provides enhanced air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.
- Meteor and MICA missiles for air-to-air combat.
- Scalable Combat Mission System (SCMS) for enhanced situational awareness.
- Helmet-mounted display (HMD) for pilots.
- Advanced avionics and electronic warfare capabilities.
Future Plans: The IAF plans to acquire more Rafale jets in the future, with a total of 36 jets on order. Additionally, the force is also exploring the acquisition of other fighter jets, such as the F-21 (a variant of the F-16) and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Significance: The acquisition of the Rafale jets is significant for the IAF, as it enhances the force's capabilities and provides a much-needed boost to its fighter jet fleet. The Rafale's advanced features and capabilities will help the IAF to maintain its air superiority and respond effectively to emerging threats in the region.
Overall, the acquisition of the Rafale jets is a significant step forward for the IAF, and it's exciting to see the force modernizing its capabilities to meet the challenges of the 21st century!