India to base first squadron of Rafale fighter jets in Bengal

NEW DELHI: India will base its first squadron of Rafale fighter jets, which are also capable of delivering nuclear weapons, in the eastern sector as part of the overall policy to gradually build nuclear as well as conventional deterrence against China.

With Sukhoi-30MKI fighters already operating from Tezpur and Chabua in Assam, the IAF has now finalised plans for the first 18 Rafales to be stationed at the Hasimara airbase in Bengal from late-2019.

This comes at a time when India is also conducting final trials of the nuclear-capable Agni-IV and Agni-V ballistic missiles after the Strategic Forces Command inducted the Agni-III a couple of years ago.

Under the Rs 59,000 crore (7.87 billion euro) deal inked with France in September last year, the IAF will get 36 Rafales in batches by mid-2022 or so. With 14 India-specific requirements, including the capability for "cold start" from high-altitude regions, the Rafale packs quite a punch with its ability to carry 9.3-tonne of weapons and simultaneously perform both air defence and ground attack missions.

"The Hasimara airbase currently has MiG-27s that will be retired over the next two-three years. They will be replaced by Rafales. A team from Dassault Aviation has already visited Hasimara to review the maintenance and other infrastructure required there," said an official.

"The Sarsawa base (UP), among other places, is being considered for the second Rafale squadron.

Under the contract, Dassault has to ensure minimum 75% availability for the jets at all times under the performance-based logistics support for the first seven years, which can be extended by another five," he added.

The IAF also activated the advance landing ground (ALG) at Tuting, in Arunachal's Upper Siang district, just 10 days ago. It is the sixth such ALG to be made operational in Arunachal apart from the ones in eastern Ladakh, all with an eye firmly on China.

Moreover, the Panagarh base in Bengal is also set to get its six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Panagarh, of course, is also going to be the headquarter of the Army's new 17 Mountain Strike Corps being raised with two high-altitude infantry divisions, apart from other armoured, artillery, air defence and engineer brigades spread from Ladakh to Arunachal.

Deterring the dragon

A) Steps being taken:

* Nuclear-capable Agni-III (3,000-km) ballistic missile inducted into the Strategic Forces Command

* Agni-IV (4,000-km) & Agni-V (over 5,000-km) undergoing final trials

* Additional Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, spy drones & helicopters deployed in north-east

* T-72 tanks deployed in Eastern Ladakh & Sikkim

* 2 new infantry divisions (36,000 soldiers) raised at Likabali & Missamari (Assam) in 2009-2010

* New Mountain Strike Corps (17 Corps), with HQ at Panagarh (West Bengal), to be fully raised by 2021 with 90,274 soldiers

* 6 C-130J `Super Hercules' aircraft to be based at Panagarh by mid-2017

* 6 Akash surface-to-air missile squadrons being deployed in north-east

* BrahMos supersonic cruise missile regiment to be deployed in Arunachal

* Activated advance landing grounds in Ladakh (DBO, Nyoma & Fukche) & Arunachal (Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Along, Ziro & Tuting)

* Plan to to boost military force-levels & infrastructure in A&N Islands

B) Rafale fighters:

* 36 Rafale fighters for Rs 59,000 crore (7.87 billion Euro) as per deal inked with France on Sept 23, 2016

* 1st Rafale to come by Nov 2019. All 36 fighters by 2022

* 1st squadron of Rafales to be based at Hasimara

Capabilities:

* 4.5 Gen omni-role fighter

* Can simultaneously perform both air defence & ground attack missions

* Can deliver nuclear weapons

* Combat range from 780-km to over 1,500-km depending on mission

* Can carry 9.3-tonne of weapons:
* 150-km beyond-visual range Meteor air-to-air missiles* 70-km range MICA air-to-air missiles

* 300-km Scalp air-to-ground cruise missiles
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ghter-jets-in-bengal/articleshow/56384484.cms

Hmm Bengal. trying to keep out of the range of Pakistani missiles and approaching Pakistan with mid air refueling. Good strategy but one major draw back that should not be told.

BHarwana said:

Hmm Bengal. trying to keep out of the range of Pakistani missiles and approaching Pakistan with mid air refueling. Good strategy but one major draw back that should not be told.

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Are you stupid? We place our frontline combat fighters right on the border with Pakistan. That is how confident the military is about Pakistan not being able to do anything to them.

Stationing military gear in Bengal means that they are geared towards the Northern Borders - China.

Deadpool said:

Are you stupid? We place our frontline combat fighters right on the border with Pakistan. That is how confident the military is about Pakistan not being able to do anything to them.

Stationing military gear in Bengal means that they are geared towards the Northern Borders - China.

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A ground striker to attack Chinese tanks and army that will some how roll over Himalaya wall wow. Put some sense in your head. 8 billion is a lot to be destroyed by a single missile. Bengal is good thinking. But it was even better to station them in France and call them when there was a war.

BHarwana said:

A ground striker to attack Chinese tanks and army that will some how roll over Himalaya wall wow. Put some sense in your head. 8 billion is a lot to be destroyed by a single missile. Bengal is good thinking. But it was even better to station them in France and call them when there was a war.

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Thankyou for pointing it out. I realize my mistake now. I was arguing with someone who has the intelligence of a 5 year old.

Deadpool said:

Thankyou for pointing it out. I realize my mistake now. I was arguing with someone who has the intelligence of a 5 year old

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lol

Why Rafale when there were so much better options. May be French bribed Modi

Interesting development. BD Army should take note. start making plans to procure fighter jets from China

@BD_patriot to counter Rafales? Ind stationed them to counter China.. not BD.

oh okay...got it

This is why India needs a blanket ban on newspapers getting access to info related to defence. Every babu seeking his 5 seconds of fame will blurt out anything making intel gathering easier, rather than forcing opposition to rely on ELINT & HUMINT.

BHarwana said:

A ground striker to attack Chinese tanks and army that will some how roll over Himalaya wall wow. Put some sense in your head. 8 billion is a lot to be destroyed by a single missile. Bengal is good thinking. But it was even better to station them in France and call them when there was a war.

Click to expand...

Actually its an open secret.Hasimara Airbase hosts Mig-27 which will be replaced by Rafale within 3-4 years.So,its not much of a news.

BHarwana said:

Hmm Bengal. trying to keep out of the range of Pakistani missiles and approaching Pakistan with mid air refueling. Good strategy but one major draw back that should not be told.

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More like trying to defend against bangladesh

BHarwana said:

lol

Why Rafale when there were so much better options. May be French bribed Modi

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What better option?

BHarwana said:

Hmm Bengal. trying to keep out of the range of Pakistani missiles and approaching Pakistan with mid air refueling. Good strategy but one major draw back that should not be told.

Click to expand...

May be they will first get proper "know-how" and then gradually place them on western border after they feel like most confident with Rafales.

BHarwana said:

Hmm Bengal. trying to keep out of the range of Pakistani missiles and approaching Pakistan with mid air refueling. Good strategy but one major draw back that should not be told.

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Induct something that can even remotely take on the SU 30's, and Rafale will greet you at the western border. Besides, we have got you covered wIth our SAM's and missiles for the so called approaching Pakistan. Rafale would be an overkill..