TA的每日心情 | 奋斗
2026-10-4 22:18 |
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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18 s: W+ Z: S; s
5 j5 W. G# T# J4 Y" C! LIn 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.& j. D& f! G% y
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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.0 X* @& G/ I3 W. J
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It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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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 $80 million by 2020.5 o- Z) T9 h/ P& Q0 z5 f+ k/ t1 o
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4 K/ J9 \& i9 \8 X' zSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
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6 M2 Q) s q/ e$ M, Z: e2 e$ RSenior 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. I+ ? D8 {) {# w/ k9 p0 y" E: f$ m
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发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
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