TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 15 小时前 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 181 N8 ` Z; x* [( s
6 e2 R. H, l, @% ?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.- V! y7 R' S9 P1 v7 |- o8 S# s
% k& m5 B! @( @* I/ O( f oBusiness 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.7 H, n3 _( s0 \* _5 R0 l
+ g$ V7 ]: d8 X3 kThe 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.
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It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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( [' Q f; ]# ~. gThe 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 $80 million by 2020.
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, G7 E) e$ k/ Q/ _8 p5 dSources 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.7 [% _2 B# J8 s- g7 c! K& G* B
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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." ?$ G( w' m$ ?' C8 B# p; T7 c
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