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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18) B5 Y( O& z" ^0 U
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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.3 C: K g9 n* Q' i% B, L; ^+ P- ~
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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.
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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.
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0 i, c9 M" C8 I1 C! I0 FIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A t. L9 s) P3 Y" ]6 k( o3 D. N4 h6 `
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/ u% Q- p" \0 S/ b( w. r. u! |6 IThe 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.& W' `. c* J: s; y' \6 a1 M
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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.
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d7 i: |8 ]) g( aSenior 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 o2 n9 Q& V8 W7 ~
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