TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 3 天前 |
---|
签到天数: 2082 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18: `: m$ a3 y: j; ^. ?$ s$ I6 D
5 a7 s+ Y# {- u% ?" Z3 u5 _% iIn 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.+ P' Z# l1 E" }" h! D/ K
* P6 \& x7 [1 |, Y
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.
& C& i! g$ X/ i+ b$ N, T L* i8 Z( u# d8 b) r: x+ }, D, ]
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 x* Y H, i" L6 w1 _6 {
1 A5 V' g& j5 O* q3 M) \2 V. Y; P
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
) {; m% u7 Q5 \...." r2 W9 ?6 m5 m
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 $80 million by 2020.0 v/ V9 a& o Q' O' [0 d! Y l
....
5 }+ [" L% e' P5 Y; x. JSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.$ b% O4 W; R, ]7 g
9 c5 [% ]9 n" R+ GSenior 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.
* z* G: x& H( F; R0 ` n6 b$ s$ Z1 I" G3 M, V( e8 Q! f
  
+ z9 W' Q3 Y+ z! g* y |
|