- o v+ C$ o: G- w" y3 d. b8 zIn 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. & I3 _+ u0 [5 }1 ?5 M, Z / |+ a( ?: }: Q. C5 KBusiness 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.5 r$ y6 J* k% o+ { f# `
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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. / L* m4 |" ?9 V# Y 3 |5 N! x/ V0 G NIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A/ I) Q U( k) U" E2 w* M
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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 $80 million by 2020. - i' z: S- {4 u: O9 M& d3 K7 ?.... 2 \! n$ M# h. E6 g( T; c2 N/ {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. + C% u/ Y5 m0 ] ; T# s! g3 i3 w6 K# R& fSenior 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. 0 l6 @; U1 Q1 G3 J4 i3 x8 | u9 t+ a- d; m/ d: c$ c7 \ u) h' d1 U9 `* `
holycow 发表于 2018-2-19 00:43 $ H! h$ g/ s J. d7 f7 K, PBusiness Standard, 15th Feb 18% X# a& v% e6 _* q
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In what would be a huge capability jump, the Indian Air Force (IAF) ...
/ i' g' U8 d8 R! |+ x6 ]哈哈,看这出戏能唱多久吧。印度肯定会要求Make in India,至少整合N多印度系统和武器,而美国基本上不可能答应。这个“基本上不可能”,20年后F-35已经进入生产尾声了,还是可能的哈。F-35还有数据主权问题,从ALIS到威胁数据库都是自动与美国联网的。一个是美国是不是愿意印度连近来,另一个是印度是不是愿意被美国“数据吸尘”过去。( s3 }) }- z+ N b& H+ N; }
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FPGA也是一个因素。/ `; \2 I" F, F# [: Y% Z
( x- b' {* u5 [0 [" b2 Z印度要是买到F-35,中国肯定立刻把歼-20部署过去了。到F-35交付印度,怎么的也得5-7年,歼-20的产能应该上去了。