The first of the 26 Rafale fighter jets will be formally handed over to India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 8 October 2019.

The Rafale fighter jet will be the most advanced fighter aircraft in the IAF’s fleet. Compared to the SU 30MKI — currently the best aircraft in the IAF — the Rafale jet is faster, has a wider range and more capabilities.

More importantly, at least 75% of the Rafale fleet has to be combat ready at any given point. On the other hand, the availability of SU 30MKI aircraft is only 55%.

The Rafale fighter jet a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is designed and manufactured by a French company called Dassault Aviation.

Dassault’s ‘omnirole’ aircraft comes with a host of weapons and can perform a variety of functions — like aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence — according to the company.

Here’s everything you need to know about Rafale fighter jets:

1. It’s A Twin Engine Fighter Aircraft

The Rafale fighter jet is powered by two M88-2 engines from SNECMA. Each engine provides a thrust of 75kN.

2. ​Rafale Fighter Jets Can Help Each Other Out Mid-Air

The Rafale fighter jets are equipped with ‘buddy-buddy’ refuelling that also one aircraft to lend its fuel to another while still in flight.

3. ​It Can Fire METEOR Missiles To Take Out Targets That Are Out Of Visual Range

METEOR — a beyond visual range air to air missile — can take out enemy aircraft at a range of over 100 kilometres.

4. SCALP Missiles Can Take Out On-Ground Targets 300 Milometers Away

Rafale can be equipped with SCALP missiles, a precision long range ground attack missile, capable of taking out targets within a radius of 300 kilometres.

5. And, Carry Six AASM Missiles At A Time

Each AASM missile has GPS and imaging infrared terminal guidance. It can accurately hit a target with an accuracy of 10 meters.

6. ​It Has A Holographic Cockpit Display

The fighter jet’s cockpit has been equipped with a display from Thales Avionique. The head-up, wide-angle holographic display manages the aircraft control data, mission data and firing cues.

Its multi-image display at head-level shows the tactical situation and sensor data from around the aircraft. Two lateral displays on either side show the aircraft’s systems and the mission data. The pilot has his own helmet mounted sight and display aside from the main console.

7. Rafale Can Aim For Eight Targets At A Time

There’s also a RBE2 passive electronically scanned radar developed by Thales on board. It has ‘look-down’ and ‘shoot-down’ abilities that can track up to eight targets at the same time, identify the threats and prioritise accordingly.

Rafale’s radar is more powerful that Su-30 MKI’s PESA Radar.

8. Rafale’s Higher Survivability

Rafale’s electronic warfare system, Spectra, is a Thales contribution as well. It’s equipped with solid state transmitter technology, a DAL laser warning receiver, missile warning, detection systems and Jammers.

The ability for Spectra to combine the most effective defensive measures based on various combinations of its features gives Rafale a greater chance of surviving in hostile airspace than the Su-30MKI.

9. Rafale’s Being Customised For The Indian Air Force

The Rafale fighter jets ordered by India are being customised for the Indian Air Force. They will have the ability to land and take off quickly from high altitude areas like the airbase in Leh.

IAF Rafales will also receive radar warnings to identify hostile tracking systems as well as a towed decoy system to throw off any incoming missile attacks.