Rafale deal: RK Sharma dismisses media reports

BANGALORE:  Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal R K Sharma, dismissed the international media reports that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had not taken the operating costs of the recently selected Rafale aircraft in the Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal into consideration.“Not everything being reported in the media is true,” he said. Responding to a query from the media after taking part in the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Defence Avionics Research Development (DARE) in the city, Sharma, who was a part of the committee that took the final decision on the aircraft said, “The technical and cost aspects were considered before we took a decision.” The Indian government picked the Rafale as the lowest bidder over the Eurofighter in one of the biggest defence deals worth over $10 billion. Since then, the makers of the Eurofighter and the British media have pointed out that their product was better. Sharma said that the deal (MMRCA) would bring critical technology to India. He also said that the new Defence Offset Policy would be introduced soon. He further added that the research establishments did not have a clear mandate or charter listed in the Defence Procurement Policy. He suggested that the DRDO could send their representations to the center for consideration. He asserted that the Transfer of Technology (TOT) from the deal would be a boost to the Indian research establishments.