TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 3 天前 |
---|
签到天数: 2094 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
& g+ D. { i5 _$ P; R! K) `' c" E+ g. g. R
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.
/ Z; u/ { w) A9 _$ e( w2 y9 u5 x
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.- t8 P, Z* y4 a- @# C1 W- H, [! M
L$ z- Q Y2 Q% a3 j
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.; O. S5 c8 m- r' f
9 v8 U2 e( f" ~" t3 \+ X$ @
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A. r& Y/ ]' @3 B- o0 }
....' p/ o7 L l _; I. @
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.
! r; Q- @; D3 E! k( d....
+ v& B( R7 x. K {1 `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.
( v( _' z5 `3 m% j6 R5 H: h. t7 _: x: Z6 {# T+ O( Q
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.8 _' d% X7 {8 n a0 D" R
8 _3 t4 _1 y. ]
  
4 L; |1 ~" W; N6 H' Q7 W2 o |
|