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Travel time between Paris and Bordeaux, if you travel south from the French capital via the A10 highway is around 5 hrs and 40 minutes. That corresponds to a distance of just under 600 kilometres.

This is a small distance for European standards, but for India given the CoronaVirus outbreak situation, continued lockdown at the Dassault military facility in Bordeaux France has once again pushed back the ‘travel schedule’ or   delivery timetable of Rafale fighter jet for Indian Air Force (IAF).

From the earlier deadline of April 2020, the delay in arrival of Rafale fighter jets has been constant. From May to June and now maybe, sometime in July. Or whenever situation improves in France.

Various media reports emanating from Bordeaux region says due to travel restrictions and social distancing norms imposed on the French technicians, production at Dassault Aviation factory is currently on hold.

If pandemic situation improves in France, Rafale’s supply line could re-start later next month.

France has taken a nasty blow of COVID19 virus.

According to the latest report issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) 19,294 persons had died in France due to CronaVirus infection.

As per the original plan, four Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft should have been placed at the IAF’s Ambala airfield by now.

In November 2019, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had travelled to France to formally take delivery of first four Rafale aircrafts.

All these four fighter jets are still at the Bordeaux facility where IAF pilots are undergoing training.

The agreement schedule is, 14 Rafale fighter jets to be in India by February 2021. In all 36 Rafales were ordered in September 2016 at an estimated price tag of Euros 7.8 Billion.

Eighteen Rafale fighters will be based the IAF’s ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron No. 17, at Ambala Air Force Station.

The remaining 18 aircraft will be located at IAF’s 101 Squadron at Hasimara Air Force Station, West Bengal.

Squardon No 17 was earlier located at Bhatinda, Punjab before moving to Ambala in Haryana.

Out of the 36 fighters ordered, six Rafale trainers will bear the ‘RB’ series tail numbers.

Tail sign ‘RB’ stand for current Chief of Air Staff (CoAS) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.

It may be recalled ACM Bhadauria had played a critical role in Rafale deal as India’s lead negotiator.

The rest of the 30 fighters will have ‘BS’ on their tail numbers – which are the initials of former Air Chief, ACM – BS Dhanoa.

The remaining Rafale 30 jets will be equipped with the world’s most advanced weapons package of Meteor and Scalp missiles.

These will provide the IAF not only air dominance in the region but also deep strike capability on both its flanks – along the Western border facing Pakistan as well as will complement India’s strike force facing China along the north-eastern frontier.