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Business Standard, 15th Feb 188 G1 z* x r, R# P( L: A! S9 L
$ F# A) K0 a% p, C, |. gIn 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.. c7 m$ }6 W- l- J) M; J) {' ~1 V
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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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6 u- J0 j: |$ J, P' A2 W/ HIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A8 E8 y! p% `% k; @
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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 $80 million by 2020." Z* a4 U+ g3 f
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6 L. }$ ^& q" ~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 N2 N& w5 \0 e& V8 B
9 ?+ [7 L5 {; [9 ?6 QSenior 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.
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