TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2026-9-3 19:52 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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f5 x `8 ~. ^5 `% N$ oIn 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.3 K; \( p4 x" S- }" K- E3 e
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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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The 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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4 k# V6 k- D, @1 g' F7 VIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A+ d, a. c% g; V4 w1 _& o
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% f7 Z% g( W1 N2 L' _, m" ]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 $80 million by 2020." j5 D5 c# p' `6 s* [- y
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Sources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.! W# Q# t+ b; Y1 o% P+ a8 K
! z0 L5 Z* d% B$ y7 tSenior 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.1 ^: j, i6 y! l: q. @1 p4 _; g
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