The integration of Rafales gives India “an edge,” enabling it “to strike first and deep,” Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria said today.

Talking to a news agency three days before the Air Force Day parade on October 8, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief said, “Integration of Rafales brings in a platform which is way ahead and would give us an edge and capability to strike first and deep.”

Rafales have been operationalized in the IAV, he said, like helicopters Chinooks and Apache. “In the next three years, we’ll see Rafale and LCA Mark 1 squadrons operating with full strength, along with additional MiG-29 being ordered in addition to current fleets,” Bhadauria said.

Rafale jets are expected to be the focus of attention during the IAF day flypast. “Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine omnirole, air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence fighter aircraft, equipped with a wide range of weapons,” IAF had tweeted on Saturday.

Against the backdrop of mounting tensions with China in Ladakh, the IAF has operationalized Rafale fighter jets in the theatre. While India ordered 35 Rafale jets, five have already arrived and inducted in the IAF.

In another development related to Indian military, Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) has been successfully flight tested today from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha, said a government press release. All the mission objectives including missile flight up to the range and altitude, separation of the nose cone, release of Torpedo and deployment of Velocity Reduction Mechanism have been met perfectly..