Boeing in talks with Indian Navy for Super Hornet jet

The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fits with the needs of the Indian Navy and the US Defence major is keen to go through the route of "Make in India'' for building a world-class industrial facility which can produce aircraft like Super Hornet.

Addressing media persons at the Aero India 2017 here, Thom Breckenridge, Vice President, Global Sales – India, Boeing Defence, Space & Security, said that Super Hornet, being offered to Indian Navy, was introduced in 2007 and has a long life span. "We have given 700 deliveries and to countries other than the US as well. In terms of maintainability and cost, it is the lowest and very affordable,'' he added.

The twin-engine plane is capable of meeting all needs of the Indian Navy and the Boeing Company is uniquely placed through its presence in India and Make in India initiative to go ahead with the plan to produce Super Hornet, the Boeing official said without going into specifics about ongoing negotiations with the Indian Navy.

Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is the world's pre-eminent carrier-capable multirole aircraft. It is a combat proven, supersonic fighter jet with a defined US Navy flight plan to outpace threats into the 2040s.

The Indian Navy last month issued a request for information (RFI) to global makers seeking a 57 'Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters' (MRCBFs) to augment its operational capability. Navy has already ordered 45 of the twin-engine MiG 29-K from Russia, some of which have arrived and inducted. The need for additional 57 aircraft came at a time when the naval variant of the Light Combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas could have met the requirement of the Navy.

"Boeing is prepared to bring its global scale and supply chain, its best-in-industry precision manufacturing processes, as well as the company's experience designing and optimising aerospace production facilities to bear in expanding India's aerospace ecosystem and helping to realise the Make in India vision," Breckenridge said.

Super Hornet is the most advanced aircraft of its kind in operation today with designed-in stealth, an AESA radar and more highly integrated mission systems than any other aircraft. It is a modern fighter that can match and tackle tomorrow's threats.