OdishaPlus Bureau
The first batch of five Rafale jets has landed at the Ambala air base on Wednesday afternoon. Keeping pace with the security, the police has imposed section 144 around the base including Dhulkot, Baldev Nagar, Garnala and Panjkhora. The authorities have also banned shooting of videos and photography.
The squadron of Rafale jets will be stationed at the Ambala air base in Haryana. The jets took off from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux on Monday and arrived after covering a distance of 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in the United Arab Emirates.
At many places in Ambala, hoardings have been erected to welcome the arrival of the fighter jets. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said the people of Ambala are very enthusiastic about the arrival of the jets.
Nearly four years ago, India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to purchase 36 Rafale jets under a Rs 59,000-crore deal to boost the IAF’s combat capabilities. 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’.