TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2024-12-14 20:50 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18+ s, Q' m- T) c1 G- d% G
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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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4 B1 V% @2 b' C+ |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.; m+ a7 \' U! V
" V4 i3 v' o bThe 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.! n6 z, A: [6 r7 M# n+ w2 d) u
- @" V( ~0 |4 V, aIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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! J+ c2 V. Y$ eThe 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 $80 million by 2020.( \4 n0 m3 `8 }$ x# f
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1 V% x" q. x' z q) bSources 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.
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