Rafale aircraft jets will strengthen our fleet : IAF chief defends aircraft procurement
New Delhi, Sept 12 (IBNS) :Providing a shot in the arm to the Narendra Modi Government, caught in a political storm over purchasing French Rafale aircraft jets, Indian Air Force chief Birendra Singh Dhanoa on Wednesday defended the decision, saying the procurement would strengthen the existing fleet.
"By providing the Rafale and S-400, the government is strengthening the Indian Air Force to counter the short falls of our depleting numbers," the Air Force chief said at an event in Delhi.
“No country is facing the kind of grave threat that India is confronted with. Our neighbours are not sitting idle. China is modernising its air force significantly. Intentions of our adversaries can change overnight. We need to match force level of our adversaries," he said.
''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,'' he a said.
The Air Force chief's comments came a day after the opposition's allegations that the government was using men and women in uniform to defend the Rafale deal.
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the Narendra Modi government over the deal and alleged that the same had caused a loss of Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer as compared to the price negotiated by the Congress-led UPA government.
However, what Dhanoa said pertained to the quality of Ragale airctaft and not the purchasing price, the contention the Congress and other opposition parties have raised.
Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, whose company has been linked by Congress in the deal, has written to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over allegations regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal and said his party has been 'misinformed, misdirected and misled by malicious vested interests and corporate rivals.'
In his letter to Rahul, Anil expressed deep "anguish over continued personal attacks" by Rahul on him and termed all allegations as “baseless, ill-informed and unfortunate.”
Anil clarified to Rahul that Rafale fighter jets are not being manufactured by Reliance or the Dassault Reliance Joint Venture.
"All 36 planes are to be 100% manufactured in France, and exported from France to India," he clarified.
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