TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2025-12-15 22:08 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18+ l& k+ l" s8 f; 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.
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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.! G$ g& z' R% i4 g- l7 b1 ~: u
; x( ?6 L7 `2 Y4 ^& mThe 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.7 j9 [3 Z: _& q% P: w
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It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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9 ]0 K+ Z8 Z+ f3 F E- ]$ x+ n; pThe 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." `& d2 \" j) N" _0 Z
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6 T! ]7 S7 ^& U% s) o# _, J. ^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.9 K e/ E/ M; D& @% \3 f9 f4 l
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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.: k( \/ D) f( n4 @2 h% q
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