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Business Standard, 15th Feb 183 C. H, I Y5 r3 r
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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.. ^. u ]( F" Z
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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.5 S5 W5 l; S3 L( t7 q
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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.6 _; k2 m3 E: T1 Q, P4 X
; J: Z9 [8 D3 w/ MIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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: `! X3 G! I8 S c4 NThe 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 $80 million by 2020.1 q; G% f' K- W% @% \ i3 ?
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" i4 O: ~ F) D( r7 i: e+ g- b: v5 SSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.( b' x0 p5 L- v7 @
4 S8 L$ X- B; K2 P$ {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.0 @8 I' E4 k2 ]; a
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