TA的每日心情  | 奋斗 15 小时前 | 
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18. G1 C- g! f0 x& d1 R+ \ 
 
3 |, w$ w) q6 e- G$ K  Y* yIn 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- m$ ~8 r+ X( `% j$ B0 I3 @ 
 
+ S( V# |% [9 G9 j% {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.  A# X7 a% `( m4 ]* r; [7 ^: { 
 
$ \( B$ V# U7 j' \' ZThe 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) d& {" f9 a: k; g3 B) q) f 
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$ j9 f6 o& n9 JThe 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.; f( K. x' u" X2 t" e! H' z5 k 
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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.! C" T" F* L( l" o) L 
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