At the appropriate level, the IAF was consulted by the government to reach the figure of 36 fighter jets compared to the 126 jets demand of the IAF: BS Dhanoa

Endorsing the deal, Dhanoa said the Air Force has got the most modern sensors, state-of-the-art weapons.

IAF chief BS Dhanoa said Rafale will be a game-changer in the subcontinent. On Dassault choosing Reliance over HAL, he said IAF or govt had no role in it. He said China has fighter jets and also more air bases which is a threat to India

Indian Air Force chief B S Dhanoa said on Wednesday the Rafale aircraft, once brought to India will be a game-changer in the subcontinent.

"It's a very good aircraft. We have got a good package and we have a lot of advantages in the Rafale deal," he said. The Air chief added that the purchases will enhance the Indian Air Force's (IAF) capability.

In response to a question on Rafale maker Dassault Aviation choosing Reliance Defence over state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Dhanoa said it was the prerogative of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to choose the offset partner and neither the government nor the Air Force had any role in it.

Endorsing the deal, he said the Air Force has got the most modern sensors, state-of-the-art weapons, India-specific enhancements, better price terms, better delivery time schedules, better maintenance terms, longer industrial commitment terms, and additional warranty.

"At the appropriate level, the IAF was consulted by the government to reach the figure of 36 fighter jets compared to the 126 jets demand of the IAF," he said.

Asked for his reaction on if HAL was kept out of the Rafale deal, Dhanoa said: "It is not as if HAL was left out. HAL was involved in the TOT and productions".

Dhanoa said the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal to buy 126 aircraft, where Rafale was the lowest bidder, had reached an impasse due to irresolvable differences between HAL and Dassault Aviation over HAL's additional man-hours in the production of the aircraft and the resultant cost increase.

"The available options were analysed. We had choices - first, to continue indefinitely to resolve the difference between Dassault Aviation and HAL; cancel RFP (Request for Proposal) and restart the process," Dhanoa told reporters. "Considering another variant at this stage will require a few more years," he added.

"We have bought two squadrons of aircraft under emergency purchase... starting from the time Pakistan bought the F-16s," he said. One squadron has about 18 aircraft.

Speaking about the presence of the Chinese landmass looming over India, Air Chief Dhanoa said: "The number of Chinese aircraft is going up in the past few years, the rise is unprecedented, and 50 aircraft is a serious number. If you look at the number of their bases, and if you look at our bases, if you ask only whether the number of their aircraft pose a threat, the answer is NO."

On the delivery timeline of the S-400 missile defence system, once the deal is signed, Dhanoa said: "The first delivery is in two years after signing the agreement."