NB Explains | Four Rafales hold strategic exercise in Indian Ocean region amid Chinese threat; WATCH HERE-
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New Delhi, June 1: In a significant development, the Indian Air Force conducted a strategic exercise in the Indian Ocean Region in which four Rafale fighter jets participated.
The four Rafales took off from the Hasimara airbase in West Bengal, outmanoeuvred a "large engagement force" of hostile warplanes, and carried out a precision strike against a "high value" target in the strategic Indian Ocean region (IOR) in an exercise that showcased the air force’s capability to "strike far and strike hard". Notably no weapons were fired in the exercise.
This comes in the backdrop when China is going all out to increase the aggression in the far seas and its warships are increasingly foraying into the Indian Ocean Region.
The long-range mission lasted six hours and involved mid-air refuelling of the French-origin Rafales that have significantly boosted the capabilities of the IAF.
This strategic exercise was carried out a few days ago, but the IAF shared the first details of the long-distance simulated strike on Wednesday. They send a veiled message to project power far from the country’s shores.
“#IAF stretching its legs. Four IAF Rafales flew a long-range mission for over six hours into the IOR. The aircraft “fought” their way through a large force engagement en route to their Weapon Release Point. Pickle on time, weapon on target-the IAF way!”
#IAF stretching its legs.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 31, 2023
Four IAF Rafales flew a long range mission for over six hours into the IOR. The aircraft “fought” their way through a large force engagement en route to their Weapon Release Point.
Pickle on time, weapon on target-the IAF way! pic.twitter.com/FldiluXEZX
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE-
4 Rafale of the #IAF recently carried out a long-range mission lasting over 6 hours in the IOR.
— Defence Decode® (@DefenceDecode) May 31, 2023
Acc. to IAF the aircraft encountered a "large force engagement" during the exercise and reached their designated Weapon Release Point, the targets were hit successfully.
[File VIDEO] pic.twitter.com/5gqOd4nU2E
The Indian Navy did so in April 2018 when it spotted a Chinese naval task force in the IOR. In two tweets, it sent a subtle but powerful message to the Chinese navy: You are being watched in the IOR.
Prior to this strategic exercise, IAF’s Rafales recently debuted in an overseas exercise. The aircraft took part in Exercise Orion at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in France from April 17 to May 5. The drills involved the air forces of France, the US, the UK, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.
For a while now, the IAF is keeping an eye on the IOR closely and is active in the region. From carrying out drills with like-minded countries to reaching out to states in the IOR, the Indian Navy is focusing on checking China’s rising ambitions in the region and sending out a strong message that Beijing’s power play in South China Sea cannot be replicated in the Indian Ocean.
In January 2020, India upgraded its capabilities to keep a watch on the strategically important IOR and deliver an offensive option swiftly, if necessary, with the IAF basing its front-line Sukhoi-30 fighters in southern India for the first time.
India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a government-to-government deal worth ₹59,000 crore in September 2016. The IAF’s two Rafale squadrons are based at Hasimara and Ambala.