• Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa flies Rafael in France
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC going for a sortie in Rafale fighter during his ongoing visit of France on 18 Jul 17. He is sitting in the cockpit and preparing to take off.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC going for a sortie in Rafale fighter during his ongoing visit of France on 18 Jul 17 .

New Delhi. 18 July 2017. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa flew a sortie in a Rafale fighter jet from the Saint-Dizier airbase in France, during his four-day visit to ramp up cooperation between the air forces of the two countries.

It may be recalled that India is in the process of procuring 36 Rafales from Dassault Aviation and IAF Chief is also there to see the progress first hand.
The Rafale with Indian demands customisations like Israeli helmet mounted displays, radar warning receivers and many more will be a part of the IAF inventory very soon.

The delivery of the jets will start by fall of 2019, 36 months after the deal was signed and will be completed in 67 months.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC after the sortie in Rafale fighter during his ongoing visit of France on 18 Jul 17. Along with him is the French Air Force Rafale fighter who was the co-pilot in the sortie.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC after a sortie in Rafale during his ongoing visit of France on 18 Jul 17.

Dassault along with the IAF is set to establish maintenance facilities at the Hashimara and Ambala airbases where the aircraft are likely to be based.The IAF plans to deploy the first two Rafale squadrons at air force stations in the west and east after the first of these advanced fourth generation fighters arrive.