TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
2025-12-15 22:08 |
|---|
签到天数: 2119 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18! Z+ Y# \4 g- i. P7 S& y* r+ i7 X
$ | W9 e! M- K7 Q, xIn 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.5 o3 _8 g) X0 {! |: V) U! K
) }4 @$ k! G$ f7 k v7 Z# H" A
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.+ S& ~; c+ b- O4 \8 N0 \
. Q3 B+ Z1 p+ C! Y4 HThe 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.! w% S* a) y8 W' G* |
7 V4 y' V$ U2 J) s5 o# |( j( u
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
( D0 c6 N0 a4 @5 C$ m' z....9 j0 @( n$ ?8 p
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 $80 million by 2020.
! z7 ^* g( G! U1 q$ s$ n( O....2 ?1 U6 c; d" C7 M! |
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.% h, Y# {9 V9 @6 R, _. R
/ h' k9 Z; I: t8 ySenior 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.
2 O& e6 ^( w( }6 n
- _9 Y* o5 e4 o! K7 R% J$ S. \
* a) N$ q2 ~; r# ~5 V7 P& B2 `% a1 G |
|
雷达卡
发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
显身卡
楼主
