Four Rafale fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force carried out a "strategic" mission over the Indian Ocean region for over six hours, in a significant demonstration of their long-range combat capabilities and display of the air force’s capability to “strike far and strike hard,”, people familiar with the operation said on May 31.

The jets took off from the Hasimara airbase in West Bengal, outmaneuvered 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).

The exercise comes at a time when China is pushing for greater influence in the far seas and its warships are increasingly foraying into the IOR.

According to the officials, the six-hour long-range operation entailed the mid-air refueling of French-made Rafales, that have significantly boosted the capabilities of the IAF. In September 2016, India placed a government-to-government order with France for 36 Rafale jets totaling 59,000 crores. Hasimara and Ambala are the bases for the two Rafale squadrons of the IAF.

The exercise was carried out a few days ago, but the IAF tweeted the first details of the long-distance simulated strike on Wednesday.

“#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!”

The Rafale fighter jets' cutting-edge weapons, cutting-edge sensors, improved radar for target identification and tracking, and capacity to carry a significant payload have enhanced the air force's capabilities. The Rafale's arsenal includes the air-to-air missiles Meteor beyond visual range, Mica multi-mission, Hammer smart weapon, and Scalp deep-strike cruise missiles, which enable fighter pilots to attack air and ground targets from a distance.

IAF has now been training regularly for long-range deep strikes using fighter planes, mid-air refuellers and airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. “The latest drill showcases the IAF’s capabilities to strike targets anywhere in the IOR, from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait,” Chopra added.

The Rafale jets have been upgraded specifically for India, and these modifications include the ability to start their engines cold so they can operate from high-altitude bases like Leh, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with 10 hours of data storage, infrared search, and track systems, jammers, and towed decoys to deter incoming missiles.

The twin-engine jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions including ground and sea attack, air defense and air superiority, reconnaissance, and nuclear strike deterrence. It can carry 9 tonnes of weapons on as many as 14 hard points.

India is involved in the IOR and actively monitors regional developments. The Indian Navy is concentrating on containing China's growing ambitions in the area and sending a clear message that Beijing's power play in the South China Sea cannot be repeated in the Indian Ocean. This is done through joint exercises with like-minded nations and outreach to states in the IOR.

Image source: Twitter