TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 前天 00:50 |
|---|
签到天数: 2146 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18( `+ y- w1 u. o7 @2 R1 ]5 \" J
8 c0 S7 S2 R" j$ \
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.$ e* V4 n6 K- q' c, Y( p! q9 v
' W1 @" A$ I) o6 e* {7 s
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.
) i$ M7 ]! o8 F/ h( V2 M2 K
- g* @; G9 H6 D1 Y4 W! p; rThe 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.8 ^0 f. c" V6 e2 b: V
% z9 L! ]" [, i4 _& M
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A d. m# @3 l- K6 z. B3 N
....
; f ^3 M( Y6 ?- @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 $80 million by 2020.8 o8 _3 J+ y* k6 [9 m% I
....
8 p$ T7 i( P* ^: O: o: f i8 jSources 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.$ W, m3 {( O. Q& E
: x2 C: X! H4 \0 \1 I7 C4 U% j7 }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., S# I W, l& v0 i7 H1 j
* f( \1 F! T* f; ?7 l4 E* B4 i  * v7 `& e! a+ i+ h
|
|