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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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9 h: Q- I7 Y2 w1 UIn 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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& D( ]8 \% \' l! b1 ?/ uBusiness 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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: T) c+ m! m# Q+ tThe 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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1 i7 q- k& ^' w7 S2 P) Q$ nIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A6 b& ?% o$ c% j$ Z9 j
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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 $80 million by 2020.( E) j" q) e$ L# K7 X4 \
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. k6 s% o) ]- m/ dSources 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." X( c& {- y4 i, k, u. D& _
N9 l! p5 h$ ?7 pSenior 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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