The induction ceremony of the first five Rafale fighter jets into the IAF at the Ambala airbase in September last year cost the exchequer Rs 41.32 lakhs, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Elaborating upon the expenses incurred, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the armed forces have a tradition for such inductions and such ceremonies were also held while inducting the Apace and Chinook helicopters.
Moreover, this money was spent as India and France held bilateral delegation level meetings during the ceremony, Rajnath said in the house. The talks were held between the French and India defence ministers, Rajnath said.
“All new aircraft types in IAF are traditionally inducted through a befitting ceremony... The arrangements for this event were made mostly through local resources of IAF,” the Defence Ministry said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The first five Rafale jets of IAF were formally inducted into service on September 10 last year.
India has contracted 36 Rafale jets in fly away condition under a €7.87 bn Inter Governmental Agreement with France in 2016.
The entire lot of 36 will be inducted by next year, Rajnath informed the House.