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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18- a k& E2 O% J! N5 V* F8 ~
4 g( S! n, B' N) m. ?/ Q0 ^+ o: |In what would be a huge capability jump, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is increasingly interested in procuring the American F-35 Lightning II for its depleting fighter fleet.1 J9 n* N9 o$ [3 t
9 b% o; ], q, ]8 ~4 KBusiness Standard learns the IAF top brass is formally requesting for a classified briefing by the F-35’s prime builder, Lockheed Martin, on the capabilities of the sophisticated, fifth-generation fighter developed under the US Joint Strike Fighter programme.
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+ F7 _7 e9 l( Y: R& i& MThe US government has not formally offered the F-35 to India. A classified briefing would require formal clearance from the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) and the State Department. The grant of such a clearance would be an important first step towards permitting the sale of F-35s to India.4 Z6 ?! [7 i5 j# V5 z
' D2 H9 k- g) c& P- D- gIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A7 Y; B5 ?$ o) d/ N* r/ j- M2 j! [3 T- p
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' \ f, ?. ] H! {+ |) W) L1 JThe F-35’s affordability is also attractive for New Delhi. In contrast to the bare-bones price of $115 million for each Rafale fighter (with India-specific enhancements, spares, logistics and weapons all extra), the F-35A cost customers $94.6 million last February. Lockheed Martin says it will reduce the cost to $80 million by 2020.- B, f# _, H& u% T
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9 a/ P; R1 r1 b( v' d7 t# `4 l, ^% ESources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.( K2 U0 q! |) `$ T* w( c7 g3 {
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Senior officers say the IAF is not enthused about the FGFA project. They point out the F-35 is further advanced in development and has already entered service with the USAF and six-seven air forces of American allies.
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