The Dassault Rafale is not only designed to provide aerial supremacy but also Deep Air Support (DAS), ground support, in-depth strikes, nuclear deterrence missions, and aerial reconnaissance. Rafale fighter jet has been manufactured by Dassault Aviation. It is an omni-role fighter, adept at carrying out a wide range of missions

Indian Air Force is likely to induct Rafale to its fleet of fighter aircraft by September 2019

Know All About The Omni-Role Fighter Aircraft

India will induct French-made Rafale fighter jets in September, said Air Chief Marshall BS Dhanoa said on Monday.

His statement, the first after captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan, is an indication that India will soon get advanced fighter jets to increase its offensive and defensive capabilities.

India has ordered at least 36 Dassault Aviation-manufactured Rafale fighter aircraft to update its arsenal in the wake of increased threat from cross-border terror attacks.

Why Rafale?

Acquiring Rafale jets would provide a huge boosts to India's aerial capabilities, considering that it is a twin-engine omni-role fighter with a wide array of weapons.

It is not only designed to provide aerial supremacy but also Deep Air Support (DAS), ground support, in-depth strikes, nuclear deterrence missions, and aerial reconnaissance.

The aircraft has some salient features that include its avionics or electrical equipment fitted to the aircraft. It is available in three main variants including the Rafale C single-seat land-type, Rafale B twin-seat land-type and Rafale M single-seat carrier-based version.

One of the special features that give Rafale jets an edge in aerial combat is its agility. It offers maximum manoeuvrability due to a combination of delta wing with an active close-coupled canard.

While it is not a full-fledged stealth aircraft, it offers reduced visibility in the air due to many changes to the aircraft's external parts like the fuselage, tail-fin, engine air in-lets and many more.

The Rafale also houses a glass cockpit with a central computer, which selects and prioritises information to be displayed for the pilot. It is a highly-digitised cockpit, and even allows control over a wide range of the plane's functions via spoken voice commands.

Rafale aircraft is fitted with RBE2 AA active electronically scanned array (AESA), which reportedly delivers a detection range of 200 kilometres. In terms of the engine, Rafale aircraft houses two Snecma M88 engines, each of which is very powerful when it comes to providing thrust.

It has a maximum speed of 1,912 km/hr or 1,032 knots while flying high-altitude and 1,390 km/hr in low-altitude flights.

The standard setup includes a single 30 mm GIAT 30/M791 auto cannon with 125 deadly rounds. It also has at least 14 hard-points (only air force version) for fitting weapons and external fuel tank. It is believed to be adept in both air-to-air and air-to-surface combat.

Therefore, the acquisition of Rafale jet holds significance for India.

While the deal was stalled earlier due to disagreements over production in India, the present government re-negotiated the deal for 36 Rafale aircraft in 2015 and a subsequent deal was signed in 2016. The aircraft deal also includes weapons and spares.

Despite the controversy surrounding the deal, often pointed out by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Rafale aircraft could help India a great deal in preventing foreign terror attacks.