Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet completes operational demonstration

The Navy is in the process of procuring a fleet of fighter jets under the government-to-government route for its indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which is set to be commissioned next month.

New Delhi: US aerospace major Boeing on Wednesday said its F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft completed operational demonstration at a naval station in Goa, as the company looks to bag a contract to supply a fleet of deck-based aircraft to the Indian Navy. The Navy is in the process of procuring a fleet of fighter jets under the government-to-government route for its indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which is set to be commissioned next month.

Boeing said two US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets completed "multiple ski-jumps, roll-in and fly-in arrestments, as well as performance flights, in a variety of weights in the air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-surface configurations, meeting the Indian Navy test requirements". "The Boeing team was privileged to showcase the F/A-18 Super Hornet's compatibility with Indian carriers in Goa," said Alain Garcia, vice president, India business development at Boeing Defence, Space and Security.

"As the premier frontline multi-role naval fighter, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is one of the world's most proven and affordable multi-role fighters and continues to evolve with the development of the next-generation Block III capability which will be game-changing for India," the top executive said. With the Super Hornet Block III, he added that the Indian Navy would not only get the most advanced platform but would also benefit from tactics, upgrades and knowledge related to the naval aviation ecosystem that the US Navy offers.

The Navy has shortlisted F/A-18E Super Hornet and Rafale M aircraft produced by the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation for procurement. Over four years ago, the Indian Navy initiated the process to acquire 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier. However, it is learnt that the number could be around 30 initially.

At present, the Indian Navy operates Russian-origin MiG-29K fighters from its sole aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The Request For Information issued by the Navy for procurement of the deck-based fighter jets sought to know at what level of Transfer of Technology (ToT) the companies are willing to share with India. (PTI)