Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday hailed the introduction of the Rafale jets into the Indian Air Force and said that the potent bird’s “lethality will only increase” in the hands of IAF pilots.
Dhoni, who holds the honourary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para TA battalion), expressed his delight at the five Rafale fighter jets being formally inducted into the 17 Squadron of the IAF at a glittering ceremony at the Ambala airbase.
“With the Final Induction Ceremony, the world’s best combat-proven 4.5Gen fighter plane gets the world’s best fighter pilots. In the hands of our pilots and the mix of different aircrafts with the IAF the potent bird’s lethality will only increase,” Dhoni tweeted.
“Wishing The Glorious 17 Squadron (Golden Arrows) all the very best and for all of us hope the Rafale beats the service record of the Mirage 2000 but Su30MKI remains my fav and the boys get new target to dogfight with and wait for BVR engagement till their upgrade to Super Sukhoi.”
The induction ceremony was attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh and France’ minister of the armed force Florence Parly.
Before arriving in Ambala, France’s minister of armed forces received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at New Delhi.
IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) R.K.S. Bhadauria was also present at the induction ceremony.
This is the first imported fighter jet to be inducted into service since the Sukhoi-30s from Russia in the late 90s.
