India is set to get the first batch of four to six Rafale fighters, which armed with the Meteor air-to-air missiles and Scalp cruise missiles constitute a formidable weapon system. The batch is expected by the end of July. Rafale fighter jets to arrive in Haryana's Ambala where the first squadron will be based.

India is currently in a stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector.

India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016 as an emergency purchase to arrest the worrying slide in the air force’s combat capabilities.

The French air force will refuel the Indian fighters using its Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft on their way to Al Dhafra from where aerial refueling support is expected to be provided by the IAF’s Russian IL-78 refuellers according to sources.