TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2024-12-14 20:50 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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- f1 k {& u# WIn 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.
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2 @& z9 F. D9 K7 D' QThe 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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/ [+ w! E: I3 o" XIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A. I% T9 M% H( n l2 @, m$ h
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: u: j* E0 V) t7 g8 U% 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.+ @- v1 ]; ~7 }# j2 W
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; h Q7 V- @! B6 c K8 ]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.1 ?( m5 u8 X0 S6 ]! F9 @
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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.+ Y* K3 Q( m+ [
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