TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2026-5-22 04:48 |
|---|
签到天数: 2166 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
4 r7 p( d f# R9 X; H* h4 m. _! q$ X1 G) @" d2 g
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.
7 E5 b& ]3 ]. \) N6 [ P( E8 e4 Q' Q) r2 }8 @- Q4 k
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.# E: `. s' n( c3 _- z
$ r( T2 ?5 M# `) g
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.+ v `" z+ h3 z1 {
T: V3 m. s- w& H D1 @! f, aIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A# M& s4 {6 M! k' g. c& A. }
....# E& l3 X9 U" E
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 $80 million by 2020.
0 |6 E2 v6 y' u$ U0 M5 U....
+ X+ `) U+ _; _! ?- p! |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.
4 |6 o* j8 r6 W$ N' o) y0 w* F% R/ r G3 j0 s
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. F3 @6 e7 r, b& B$ ^7 z
% m7 x( |& g0 ]: \  
' J9 ^" q+ q# K. m |
|