New Delhi: Former Indian Airforce chief BS Dhanoa on Wednesday welcomed Rafale fighter jets in India. He said that he had defended the purchase deal even after the political controversy because he did not want it to be like Bofors. In the 1980s, Bofors were allegedly bribed to buy cannons, and after that politics, heavily influenced defence procurement and bureaucrats were apprehensive about taking decisions.

Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Dhanoa said, "I defended the deal because I did not want it to be like Bofors. We were against the politicization of the defence procurement process. It was an Airforce capability question. On September 23, 2016, the Government of India signed a deal with French aerospace company Dassault Aviation for a purchase of 36 fighter jets worth Rs 59,000 crore. Nearly four years later, India received five Rafale fighter jets on Wednesday."

Dhanoa said, "I am very happy for the Indian Air Force because Rafael Jet has given the Air Force a tremendous edge over our opponents." After Dhanoa, Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria took charge of the Air Force in September last year. Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Arup Saha has said Rafale will increase the strength of the Air Force, but the country needs at least 126 Rafale aircraft, which was earlier conceived. The deal was signed during his tenure.

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