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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18* c" K% D1 E8 {$ f+ K- z& l
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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.
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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.- x# H) d' q9 C' {" c) Y$ c
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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.; h5 |/ {/ z5 n, N2 H
0 n$ P9 R& H' ~! m, J% ?- IIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A& G& R8 @" C& t
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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 $80 million by 2020.4 k1 e7 {6 {( o0 {+ I
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}3 g1 o9 P' {/ NSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.) I) S$ @$ T/ _$ T6 R
0 e4 v% k' C# b V. HSenior 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.
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