TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2025-12-15 22:08 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18, j8 D: O. B6 A, F' u7 I9 H# k
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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.. T; q: N2 k* n5 s
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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.8 \5 N6 @3 f8 z' K; f
! d; f/ S/ V4 Q- E1 UThe 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.1 _6 q, a" [% {2 ?# F, q$ D
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It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A# P: j7 p# }: [, m+ D
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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 $80 million by 2020.
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Sources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
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8 B% m9 y( {- L# b$ h. G2 `& \/ [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.7 ]' D3 N5 V" z8 _, R: A# n4 Q x* m
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