NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has categorically rejected reportsthat it has approached global US defence contractor Lockheed Martin for aclassified briefing on F-35 stealth fighter jet.
Reacting to reports, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa said that no such request forprocuring the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft has been made to the US.
”Americans have not been officially approached for a briefing on the F-35,”IAF Chief Dhanoa was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
The clarification from Dhanoa came at a time when IAF is already down to 31squadrons of fighter aircraft against an authorisation of 42.
In view of IAF’s fast depleting fleet, the Centre is expected to go for agovernment-to-government deal to get the next set of fighters.
However, any decision on buying the next set of fighter jets will be takenonly after considering several factors like financial considerations,especially when budgetary provisions are limited for any big-ticketprocurement by the Defence Ministry.
The report also quoted sources as saying that the proposal to buy and makea single-engine fighter was taken two years back on multipleconsiderations, including its cost.
Importantly, the cost of a single-engine fighter is significantly lowerthan that of a double-engine fighter like Rafale.
Also, the cost of operating a single-engine fighter is much less than thatof a double-engine fighter.
An early decision in this regard would have certainly come as a big reliefto the IAF and helped it build up its fighter strength, along with theinduction of HAL-built indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft.
The government later decided to scrap the proposal for a single-enginefighter because it felt that it would result in a single-vendor situation,which would not be acceptable in the current political environment.
Official sources, however, said that the government is seriouslyconsidering the whole Strategic Partnership Model of Defence manufacturingfor future defence procurements.