Amid mounting controversy over government’s Rafale deal with France, Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Wednesday defended the emergency procurement of jets.
Addressing a seminar on IAF force structure, organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said, “By providing the Rafale and S-400, the Government is strengthening the IAF to counter the depleting force numbers.”
By providing the #Rafale and S-400, the government is strengthening the Indian Air Force to counter the short falls of our depleting numbers: Birender Singh Dhanoa, Air Force Chief in Delhi pic.twitter.com/kUesqUuMNr
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2018
The Air Chief said that India’s neighbours are not sitting idle and countries like China are modernising its air force significantly. He also said that the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) facilitates faster procurement of equipment.
#WATCH What we do not have are the numbers, against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, we are down to 31. Even when we do have 42 squadrons, we will be below the combined numbers of two of our regional adversaries:Air Force Chief Birender Singh Dhanoa in Delhi pic.twitter.com/DKa6sQHDva
— ANI (@ANI) September 12, 2018
India and France signed for Rafale multi-role fighter jets in fly-away condition during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris in September 2016. The opposition parties, especially Congress, however, claims the deal is too expensive and allegedly favours the Anil Ambani group, while the government has asserted that no procedure has been violated.