IAF steers clear of Rafale controversy, calls the fighter a 'game changer'

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa called the Rafale a 'game changer' and claimed the contract was a 'very good package'

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, on Wednesday steered clear of the Rafale offset controversy and said he would not comment “on which company was told… nudged, to give offsets.” Dhanoa was addressing the media in New Delhi in the run up to Air Force Day. He was asked whether there was any pressure to select Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as a key offset partner in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters.

He denied that the IAF or the government influenced the selection of Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) as an offset partner. DRAL is a 51:49