India is all set to receive the remaining 6 Rafale aircraft with country-specific upgrades including long-range air-to-air missiles, frequency jammers, and advanced communications in December and January.
As per IAF officials, the first of the three multi-role jets with enhancements will arrive from Istres-Le Tube air base, northwest of Marseilles, France in December while the last three will arrive at Ambala airbase in January 2022.
As the Indian-specific upgrades in the fighter jets are tested successfully, the remaining fleet of 30 Rafales will be retrofitted with the same upgrades.
Apart from the Meteor air-to-air beyond visual range missile, Rafale also employs powerful SCALP air-to-ground laser guided ammunition that can penetrate targets from over 300 kilometers away and HAMMER tactical terrain hugging ammunition that can destroy targets from 60 kilometers away.
