TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 181 v/ S ]7 f7 i. X
, i: i& ?: y# r* A) e( H9 }' zIn 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.: J j- r- ]4 k$ ~( B
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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.
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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., L, }- F$ u- |3 j+ w
3 I. N1 [/ w1 j! q SIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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( h2 k R3 V8 k0 h7 ZThe 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 $80 million by 2020.& y$ E9 c2 l1 G" }
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' e; F* d$ Y* H, t" U9 D7 L+ ASources 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.+ U( a" }3 E$ n, W1 [7 }/ r& x
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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., e. E: [( i2 G; ?
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