The Rafale fighter jets will be taking part in the 88th Air Force Day parade on Thursday and with this, they will make their first public appearance since arrival. In a tweet, the Indian Air Force confirmed the participation of the jets.

It said, “Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine omnirole, air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence fighter aircraft, equipped with a wide range of weapons.”

A total of 56 aircraft will be part of the Air Force Day flypast this year which includes 19 fighter, seven transport aircraft and 19 helicopters. PTI quoted an IAF official saying that the Tejas LCA, Jaguar, Mig-29, Mig-21 and Sukhoi-30 aircraft took part in the full dress rehearsal on Tuesday.

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He added that planes like C-17, C-130, Dornier and DC-3 Dakota were also part of the rehearsals.

The IAF had formally inducted five Rafale fighter jets on September 10, in a major boost to India’s air power capability amid tense border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. They are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 year after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.

Known to be one of the most advanced and lethal fighter aircraft in the world currently, Rafale jets are capable of carrying a range of potent weapons and can attain a maximum speed of Mach 1.8/750 Kt.v(2,222.6km per hour), with an ability to attain a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet.