The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally inducted into service the first five of 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters it ordered in late 2016 for EUR7.9 billion (USD9.35 billion). The five twin-engined fighters (three single-seat and two twin-seat aircraft), which had arrived in India from France on 29 July, entered service with the IAF's No 17 'Golden Arrow' Squadron on 10 September in a ceremony held at Ambala Air Force Station (AFS) in northern India. The ceremony was attended by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart, Florence Parly, among others. Four additional Rafales are expected to arrive at Ambala AFS in October, with the remaining nine aircraft required to complete the squadron of 18 fighters scheduled for delivery by mid-2021, according to official sources.
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