TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
7 天前 |
|---|
签到天数: 2106 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18; m1 ?* y: R2 U+ Y! _' Q7 b5 P
. p. z5 \3 C# b1 ]
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.
% H" ]8 k9 N/ P8 g& ]3 G
! t. u6 s. |+ rBusiness 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.
l7 ^' p- O/ n9 t& {
7 X' y3 {) u$ L# \7 P% E# U& PThe 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.
+ E F$ C2 f! \# u+ f0 N, D" t# J* I% y! u( p; J; E# \. b2 w t* Z
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
, g0 ~# n9 i0 s/ ?....
+ }4 u7 Q" G- M$ Z( `6 t/ C8 uThe 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 $80 million by 2020." A9 }) }6 f- c1 d' ?$ d) V
....: R7 ?5 P$ H5 {" P2 c1 O: c1 {
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.+ L$ S5 O3 C) ?9 |
. Z# f) g: R4 E# hSenior 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.! u5 d' q4 o, U; F" b
8 \3 l3 _) P L3 o
' k( |# K) z6 @5 Z |
|
雷达卡
发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
显身卡
楼主
