Rafale a ‘very good deal’, no overpricing: Air Force chief

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Adampur (Jalandhar), November 16

Rubbishing Opposition allegations surrounding the purchase of  36 French Rafale fighter aircraft, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa today said the Indian Government managed to negotiate a “very good deal” and that there was no overpricing.

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Speaking at the Air Force Station, where two IAF units were awarded President’s Standard by President Ram Nath Kovind today, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said: “Since it is a government-to-government contract, we are getting the 36 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) at a highly negotiated price. It is definitely a good deal. It is lower than what it was in the MMRCA contract.” He, however, did not specify the amount.

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Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had alleged that the aircraft was purchased at three times the cost — up from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,570 crore each — without the transfer of technology to India.

“Technology may not be going to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), but it is coming to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and then to a lot of Indians. We are purchasing two aircraft in a flyaway condition as an emergency measure. We are getting 50 per cent offset,” the IAF Chief said.

On if it was coming to Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence Ltd, which has entered into a joint venture with France’s Dassault Aviation, he said: “I cannot answer that question.”

On the efficacy of light combat aircraft (LCA) “Tejas”, the Air Chief Marshal said: “We have stood behind Tejas. We signed a contract in March 2006 for the delivery of 20 aircraft in April 2009 and December 2011. It is 2017 and so far we have received only five. Another contract for 20 aircraft was signed in 2010 for delivery between June 2014 and December 2016. We had committed to 40.

“In addition, we are getting 83 aircraft of Mk1-A configuration. The Mk2  will be flying in 2023 with induction into the squadron by 2027,” he said. The IAF Chief said the force had been authorised 42 squadrons.