Close on the heels of Supreme Court verdict clearing the Centre of any wrong-doing in the procurement of new new generation fighter planes, Rafale, from the French government, Air Chief Marshall BS Dhanoa said that the fighter jets would be inducted in the Indian Air Force fleet by 2020. The first of the fighter jets are expected to be part of our Squadrons by September 2020, Dhanoa said.

The Air Force chief was in Jodhpur to review the Indo-Russia joint Air Force exercise of Avindra 2018 on Jodhpur Airbase on Wednesday. He said politics should not find space in the issues related to security of the country. “The country needs powerful fighter jets like Rafael,” He said while driving home the point that the Indian Air Force is currently battling the shortfall of combat aircraft. The strength of the IAF will go up with the induction of the Rafale jets.

Dhanoa, however, that it would not be appropriate to speak anything about the ongoing political debate in the country about Rafael. “But, I want to say that the country has lost a lot in the case of Bofors gun earlier. After the Bofors episode, the army could not find any new gun for many years. Learning from this we hope Rafale is kept out of the ambit of politics, he said.

After the Bofors episode the Indian Army had to function with inadequate guns for years. There should not be such a crisis in Air Force once Rafale is inducted, he said. Describing the Rafael Fighter jet as the best, he said the Air Force needs it in its fleet. There has already been a delay in its procurement. 

Hinting at Pakistan, he said neighbouring countries have also upgraded their fighter jets. He said the attitude of all the governments of the country regarding the armed forces has always been positive. 

Officials at the exercise said that the Indian Air Force requires 42 squadrons of fighter planes but now has to do with only 31 squadrons. The Indian Air Force needs the fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft. He said that every taxpayer has the right to question the expenses incurred in the purchase but critical details of the aircraft will be in public domain, which can be exploited by the enemy.

NO POLITICS

The Air Force chief was in Jodhpur to review the Indo-Russia joint Air Force exercise of Avindra 2018 on Jodhpur Airbase on Wednesday. He said politics should not find space in the issues related to security of the country.

Officials at the exercise said that the IAF requires 42 squadrons of fighter planes but now has to do with only 31 squadrons. The IAF needs the fourth and fifth generation fighter aircraft. He said that every taxpayer has the right to question the expenses but making critical details public can be exploited by the enemy.