TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 前天 10:51 |
---|
签到天数: 2109 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18$ g$ z3 K- s0 c& _. a; y
`5 \- F( f3 }+ Y* P- vIn 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.5 s! }# o9 |1 a
6 B& I6 s" G' F' A
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.
7 j! r$ _* d, w4 U) w; z5 A! b! Y
) d- {" e' M( W: B8 JThe 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.
- q/ n4 j2 c, g' R5 f" F( Z& y5 v& ^2 }5 D7 f) i v
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
4 y, u! t: f1 y4 a" y: y....9 f, R" H: `+ d% A: G/ `0 o6 x
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 $80 million by 2020.( T6 I1 U R' h* G& G5 |5 p
....
! O$ n: d, |( c3 pSources 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.
6 X5 v- U" I/ R6 l8 x' ~: b. H7 ^% X
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 M, R- }; ?1 e
* H [9 o4 R2 {$ z
  
# e1 t: i7 b$ ^" {' l/ W5 o2 v |
|