In ode to former IAF Chief BS Dhanoa, Rafale jets to have tail numbers with BS initials

In recognition of Air Chief Marshal (retd) B S Dhanoa's unrelenting backing for the Rafale deal, the Indian Air Force has decided to put tail numbers in 30 Rafale jets with 'BS' initials.

Six Rafale trainer aircraft will carry RB series tail numbers which stand for Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, the current Chief of Air Staff who played a key role as lead negotiator for the mega deal.

The political controversy relating to purchase of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation for the IAF at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore peaked during Dhanoa's tenure as chief of the air staff and he had stoutly defended the deal.

"All the Rafale fighter jets barring the trainer ones will carry 'BS' in the tail number. This is our way of thanking the former IAF Chief for the role he played to get us the jets," a senior IAF official told PTI.

Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the ...