Focus: GS-III Internal Security Challenges
Why in news?
Five Rafale fighter jets of the 36 ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) took off from France and are homebound to India.
Benefits
- This move of inducting Rafales to the IAF will boost rapid deployment of the jets to upgrade India’s ageing air power amid tensions with neighbouring China and Pakistan.
- This also marks a new milestone in the strong and growing India-France defence cooperation.
- The new fighters — the first imported jets to be inducted into the IAF in 23 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets entered service in June 1997 — will significantly enhance the offensive capabilities of IAF.
- The new fighters — the first imported jets to be inducted into the IAF in 23 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets entered service in June 1997 — will significantly enhance the offensive capabilities of IAF
- The twin-engine jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions – ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike deterrence.
-Source: Hindustan Times, The Hindu
