The ‘game-changing’ Rafale fighter jets will soon be inducted into the Indian Air Force as they land in Ambala.
The first batch of five Rafale jets, which entered the Indian airspace on Wednesday afternoon, received a warm welcome by an Indian Naval warship.
“May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings,” INS Kolkata was heard in a radio message to Rafale jets. To this, the Rafale pilot wished ‘Fair winds’ to the Indian Naval warship.
“Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting…over and out,” the ‘Aero leader’ is heard in the radio message.
Here is the exchange between the Rafale contingent and INS Kolkata:
INS Kolkata: Welcome to Indian Ocean.
Rafale pilot: Many thanks. Most reassuring to have an Indian warship guarding seas
INS Kolkata: May you touch the sky with glory. Happy landings
Rafale leader: Wish you fair winds. Happy hunting. Over and out
Defence Minister Rajanth Singh also welcomed the Rafale fighters after they enetered the Indian airspace. “The birds have entered the Indian airspace..Happy Landing in Ambala!” the Defence Minister tweeted. Watch Video:
https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1288394301639028736%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatoday.in%2Findia%2Fstory%2Fhappy-landings-rafale-jets-indian-air-navy-warship-greet-radio-1705630-2020-07-29
The radio communication followed after the Indian Rafale contingent established contact with Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata.
The first batch of five Rafale jets had taken from the UAE on Wednesday morning.
The jets took off from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux on Monday and will arrive in Amabala after covering a distance of 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates.
The fleet of five jets comprises three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft.
The five Rafales are scheduled to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday, though a formal induction ceremony would be held later.
The jets will be inducted into the IAF as part of its No 17 Squadron, also known as the ‘Golden Arrows’.
The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons.
