The exercise—taking place just a day after Pakistan issued a NOTAM & engaged in maritime war games—involves deployment of frontline fighter fleets, led by Rafale & Su-30MKI squadrons.
Instead of acquiring 114 fighters in one go as planned earlier, govt looking at going in for an initial order of 54 aircraft for IAF. Navy looking at buying 26.
Rafale is considered to be one of the finest fighters in the world. With its avionics, radars & weapon systems, it is the most potent aircraft in South Asia.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will formally receive the first Rafale fighter jet in France's Merignac Tuesday. Four jets will arrive in India by May 2020.
The Southeast Asian theatre is central to the Great Power contest between the US and China. It’s also a landscape where middle powers—France, the UK, Turkey—are shaping the strategic environment.
Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.
Capable of being fired in plain and high-altitude areas, it has day-and-night capability and two-way data link to support post-launch target, aim-point update.
Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.
COMMENTS