Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa lauded the Rafale fighters stating that it had super package with lots of of advantages which will be game-changer in South Asia.
“We have got a good package, got a lot of advantages in Rafale deal. Rafale is a good aircraft and will be game-changer when it comes to the subcontinent: the Air Chief said.
The Marshal further stated that IAF was informed when the number of aircraft in the deal was brought down from 126 to 36, he said: “At the appropriate level, IAF was consulted. IAF had given some options.
It was up to the government to choose. The government took a bold step and bought 36 Rafale aircraft.
A high performance, high-tech aircraft has been to the given to the air force to offset the capability of the adversary,
The IAF chief also lambasted the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) being left out of the deal. “It was decided to buy two squadrons through Government to Government, to meet up emergency requirements.
HAL was involved in ToT (Transfer of Technology) and licensed production. There is no question of HAL being left out: he said.
He rightly and squarely blamed HAL for the delay in the delivery of other fighter jets that it is building. “There has been a delay in the delivery schedule in contracts already executed to HAL.
There is a three years delay in delivery of Sukhoi-30, 6 years delay in Jaguar, 5-year delay in LCA, and 2-year delay in delivery of Mirage 2000 upgrade: he said.
He also trashed the idiotic points raised intentionally by vested interests that the present price of the deal is higher than the one agreed upon in the earlier negotiations.
“It, not simply possible that the new cost would be higher than the cost finalised earlier:”
