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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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- }6 r; T4 Z1 f9 B4 NIn 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." \# B" F6 h, R* \
0 z/ J) P& q1 P- c+ ~4 I& IBusiness 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." v5 f" a! A1 f( x5 k2 X' K" N
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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.( ^% {# |7 C2 ~4 u7 A
5 Q9 P& V0 V3 M% _2 @8 p/ ?% _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 $80 million by 2020.9 n$ |6 c& f. v6 A' d/ V5 C d
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* T1 h% E; z& `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.2 u& ^. L/ ~) K8 _: L5 H5 ?) e6 N
: P1 V# q+ q7 nSenior 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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