TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 昨天 03:31 |
|---|
签到天数: 2134 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
. t. |& D" ]% D+ m& C) ?
$ a$ M2 e0 W# e! }0 [& qIn 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.2 l/ b! O1 {' ?
( T7 B) M" O, e" l) W4 e2 n, H! UBusiness 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.
0 W( Z) G! ~; E5 H. H }$ \, }+ j* |) q: Y- G$ H5 ^* ^$ ~
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.# V! @/ p0 ^ _- x! Z" Z& m! h
% D8 m% R" Q, j) tIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A. n! h( @1 _" k, k' u ^# x" N* p
....
4 a, t/ {! K/ `5 a6 {6 O4 A) P" TThe 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 $80 million by 2020.5 g% [5 t# { f! |( P6 k! x, S) B
....
9 F& p9 U/ k0 e4 `. U( `Sources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
+ B4 W! G) h) K* n* q) ^0 R; u. x9 g& Y( y
Senior officers say the IAF is not enthused about the FGFA project. They point out the F-35 is further advanced in development and has already entered service with the USAF and six-seven air forces of American allies.4 O0 {1 B0 \ f6 D9 @; O3 u. w0 p
7 v- s( h) G3 n* y  
1 B) S# B9 @9 O( L- e% @: x2 I% F$ H9 |; w |
|