TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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$ q' Y; B/ |) a" `! ^; hIn 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.& c$ J2 o9 v- V r
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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.7 a3 U1 _! s! i6 h" Y2 n5 t
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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.0 I/ A! |, N6 b, S
* D* R5 g! j+ d6 {/ |; n" AIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A9 c2 D! v3 @% F w) k# }" F2 j
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4 L9 w0 d- i d8 P9 x, [The 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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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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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.: x, A* o. a: e' k& L) P8 U0 f
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