Business Standard, 15th Feb 18 6 m% H3 R: B& R0 W; [" E6 l8 P* c2 ?& _ N
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.4 _5 l% ~" y6 r1 b
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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. @0 P( k7 U D' ^ # W' ]( J O! f; r/ p3 t. `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. 1 D* b& q# c2 l# O5 H 3 ^2 z( x& r0 A) L/ B6 qIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A 6 |6 K7 Z6 \5 e! a" n.... " O8 @: T$ ?, @: ~: sThe 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." T. V) O/ @7 y. C! G; @
.... / q }0 y( y0 f# }; `* Q5 j+ eSources 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. $ Y! [$ J/ v# r% J% h+ v 2 t6 ]+ i+ M; S2 m+ i4 jSenior 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.3 N; Z3 Y1 R8 P
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发表于 2018-2-19 14:43:05
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