An Indian Air Force strike force consisting of four Rafale fighter jets took off from the Hasimara Air Base in West Bengal, maneuvering a “large combat force” of enemy warplanes and carrying out a precision strike against a “high-value” target in the strategic Indian Ocean. region (IOR) in an exercise that showcased the air force’s ability to “strike far and hit hard”, officials with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. To be sure, no actual shots were fired during the exercise.
The development comes as China pushes for greater influence in the high seas and its warships increasingly penetrate the IOR.
The long-range mission lasted for six hours and involved mid-air refueling of French-origin Rafales, significantly boosting the IAF’s capabilities, officials said. In September 2016, India ordered 36 Rafale aircraft from France in an intergovernmental agreement worth ₹59,000 crore. The IAF’s two Rafale squadrons are based at Hasimara and Ambala.
The exercise was conducted a few days ago, but the IAF shared the first details of the long-range simulated strike on Wednesday. In a tweet that was both clever and funny.
“#IAF is stretching its legs.” Four IAF Rafales flew a long-range mission for over six hours to the IOR. The aircraft “struggled” its way through a heavy deployment of forces en route to the weapons release point. Cucumber on time, gun on target – the IAF way!”
This is not the first time that the Indian Army has used Twitter to send a cheeky message to project power far from the shores of the country.
The Indian Navy did so in April 2018 when it spotted a Chinese naval task force in the IOR. In two tweets, it sent a subtle but strong message to the Chinese Navy: You are being watched in the IOR.
Rafale fighter jets have enhanced the capabilities of the Air Force with its advanced weaponry, high-tech sensors, superior target detection and tracking radar, and impressive payload capacity. The Rafale’s armament includes air-to-air beyond-visibility missiles, Mica multi-role air-to-air missiles, Hammer smart weapon, Scalp deep-strike missiles—weapons that enable fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets. from distance ranges.
The IAF now regularly trains in long-range deep attack using fighter jets, mid-air tankers and early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Center for Air Power Studies. “The latest exercise showcases the IAF’s capabilities to engage targets anywhere in the IOR, from the Persian Gulf to the Straits of Malacca,” Chopra added.
India-specific upgrades to Rafale jets include cold engine start capability for operation from high-altitude bases such as Leh, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with 10 hours of data storage, infrared search and tracking systems, jammers and towed decoys. to deflect incoming missiles.
The twin-engine jet is capable of a range of missions including land and sea attack, air defense and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence. It can carry 9 tons of weapons on up to 14 fixed points.
The IAF’s Rafales recently debuted in an overseas exercise. The aircraft participated in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France from April 17 to May 5. The air forces of France, the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain took part in the exercise.
India closely follows developments in the IOR and is active in the region. From conducting exercises with like-minded countries to reaching out to states in the IOR, the Indian Navy is focused on checking China’s growing ambitions in the region, sending a strong signal that Beijing’s power play in the South China Sea cannot be replicated in the Indian Ocean.
Read Now:James Webb Space telescope maps a surprisingly large plume erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus
