The first 5 IAF Rafales took off for India from the Dassault Aviation Facility in France, earlier today. They include 3 single-seater and 2 twin-seater aircraft.
The fighter aircraft took off from the Mérignac airbase in southern France and will arrive in India on July 29.
The Rafale aircrafts will cover a distance of nearly 7000 kms from France to India with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop en route in UAE, according to an official press release from the Indian Embassy in France.
The first Rafale fighter was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in October 2019 in a ceremony attended by the French Minister for Armed Forces Madame Florence Parly and the Indian Defence Minister Mr Rajnath Singh.
The delivery of all thirty six aircraft will be completed on schedule by the end of 2021, according to the official statement.
India purchased 36 Rafale jets in a deal worth just under 8 billion euros.