Air Force to deploy second squadron of Rafale fighter aircraft at Hashimara Airbase, Bengal

New Delhi. The Indian Navy is set to deploy the second squadron (squad) of Rafale fighter aircraft in mid-April and the squadron will be stationed at Hashimara Air Force Base in West Bengal. Official sources gave this information on Thursday. The first squadron of Rafale planes is stationed at Ambala Air Force Station. The first batch of aircraft arrived in India from France on 29 July last year.

India had signed an inter-governmental agreement in 2015 to purchase 36 fighter aircraft from France for 59 thousand crores. Rafael fighter jets were formally inducted into the Air Force fleet at an event held in Ambala on 10 September last year. The second batch of three aircraft arrived in India on November 3, while the third batch of three more aircraft arrived here on 27 January.

Sources said that the second squadron of the Rafale aircraft will be set up at the next main operating base in Hashimara in mid-April this year. India hopes to get more aircraft from France in the next few months. A squadron consists of about 18 aircraft.

The first squadron of Rafale planes is stationed at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana. Meanwhile, sources said that the commanding officer of the first squadron of Rafale has been transferred to the Eastern Air Command headquarters in Shillong. Group Captain Harkirat Singh will be replaced by Group Captain Rohit Kataria. Sources said that Group Captain Harkirat Singh could handle the deployment of Rafale's second squadron during his new deployment. When contacted, an Air Force officer described the transfer of Group Captain Harkirat Singh as a normal transfer.

The first consignment of Rafale aircraft came to India from France on 29 July last year. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement in 2015 to purchase 36 fighter aircraft from France for 59 thousand crores. Rafael fighter jets were formally inducted into the Air Force fleet at an event held in Ambala on 10 September last year. The second batch of three aircraft arrived in India on November 3, while the third batch of three more aircraft arrived here on January 27. Sources said that the second squadron of the Rafale aircraft will be set up at the next main operating base in Hashimara in mid-April this year. India hopes to get more aircraft from France in the next few months. A squadron consists of about 18 aircraft.