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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18$ [+ O* h" M$ T* }2 X' s
+ H9 U3 y7 j, x% T1 EIn 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.
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Business 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., S& C$ u, ^' D5 R6 U
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The 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., K! E5 }7 B9 _7 y y+ {) k6 G; I# `
3 Y. h# W: V" j. f3 sIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A6 Z2 s3 q1 E" @% g* c7 h8 r
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5 ^% }$ k8 G( M7 CThe 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 $80 million by 2020.* T1 [# _# y8 p. }
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% h" S5 |- c+ Y9 e6 }Sources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
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+ ~/ y, J7 b$ m6 w8 @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.' }0 P' B' C* ~6 |
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发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
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