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Wednesday, July 23, 2025
TopicRafale

Topic: Rafale

Ram Ram, Rafale. India’s TV news celebrated the arrival of French jets like a moon mission

Anchors compared Rafale to China’s J-20 and Pakistan’s F-16 — and found it ‘better on all counts’. News18 India could see both enemy countries 'were shivering'.

Rafale’s Hammer story captures what’s wrong with India’s defence acquisition

The Hammer is only the latest and most high profile case in a frenzy of ‘emergency procurements’ kicked off by the Ladakh crisis.

As Rafale lands, IAF veteran recalls ‘quiet’ 1985 induction of another French warhorse

Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) and his colleagues spent six months in France before they brought home India’s first seven Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

BJP cheers Rafale landing, West Bengal’s bizarre lockdown & ode to tigers

The most politically correct and incorrect tweets of the day from across the political spectrum.

India’s Rafale lands in Ambala, Rajnath warns those who threaten territorial integrity

Five aircraft and seven pilots land after 8,500-km journey from Merignac in France, welcomed at Ambala with traditional water salute.

Balakot, Kargil, 1971 — Rafale base at Ambala steeped in history, military significance   

Ambala air base is home to a shrine dedicated to the Sufi saint Pir Baba, and personnel posted there believe it protects them during all major operations. 

Rafale fighters to take off from France tomorrow, can be operational within a week

While operational deployment usually takes six months, due to these 'extraordinary circumstances' the fighters will be ready to be deployed within a week.

For quick deployment of Rafale, IAF opts for HAMMER weapon system, not Israeli Spice 2000

French HAMMER system was kept out of India’s 2016 contract for 36 Rafales due to its cost, but amid tensions with China, it can be equipped faster.

IAF to induct 5 Rafale fighters on 29 July in Ambala, their first mission could be in Ladakh

The IAF, in a statement, Monday said that after the arrival, ‘efforts will focus on operationalisation of aircraft at the earliest’.  

On Camera

China’s Brahmaputra dam is also a military asset. It raises alarm for India

China didn't consult India over the Brahmaputra dam. It acted unilaterally over a transboundary river system that feeds millions downstream.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

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.

Indian firm sets up titanium, superalloy plants to meet global need. Safran, Dassault, BAE line up

PTC Industries is investing Rs 1,000 cr in 4 manufacturing plants in UP, has already started supplying titanium parts to BAE Systems for its M-777 howitzers that India also uses.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

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.