TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18: K* }) K" p% e7 T
0 t9 Q" O7 k% oIn 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. N" \7 K) r5 Z+ K: U2 j
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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.4 E; P+ {+ X0 K2 b
) I- y; V7 o! K; y: Z. e) U5 @It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A# S" a# G1 T2 A
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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 2020.7 P" [* h: m h/ @4 x4 b
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3 S! s- [- j/ GSources 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.& p- P u: `4 ~4 |, a A
1 x, K) [9 q6 mSenior 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.7 x% @3 t, a0 Q* D, w! h7 ?
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发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
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