TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 前天 00:50 |
|---|
签到天数: 2146 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18& a. l! ?' J0 J7 r2 C
3 Y( U) K6 L) l: S" G, l
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.- D/ ?- u" K6 c
# Q* z/ j, y/ {5 fBusiness 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.
5 D" P# }/ S" _" m5 o+ Q
0 b' E7 O3 R$ g: n% cThe 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.
( t' Q' l m3 n/ o( \5 `+ V8 e& C$ K( h5 V
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A6 o& y" m2 E1 V; D. `
....
( K+ j( P5 D; j6 o0 F* h/ KThe 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 $80 million by 2020.9 J) ]: c5 q' N6 b6 Q
....
9 b; ~, X0 J. M$ Q; r* t; |( \( ^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.
! ]- f5 U1 T" {7 N9 T
+ @1 V0 f6 A' |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.
1 c$ ]5 d/ v) H$ {. N0 m9 Z. e
3 E- x' c {% I  
" E/ D: x2 M$ X |
|