Boeing Delivers Super Hornet Proposal to Indian AF
The closing date for submitted bids for the Indian Air Force's jet fighter contract is now but three days away. On the 24th April, Boeing - one of six groups involved in the bidding - announced that it had entered a bid based on its F/A18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.
In a statement, Boeing said it had delivered a proposal, 7,000 pages long, direct to the Indian Air Force.
Boeing already collaborates with a number of Indian firms including Tata and Hindustan Aeronautics.
"If the F/A-18IN Super Hornet is selected, these companies and others are expected to play a significant role as Boeing transfers some production and assembly to India", Boeing said, adding that initial examples of the aircraft could be delivered around three years after the winner was announced.
F-16, Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen, Mig 35
The other aircraft competing with Boeing are the Lockheed Martin F-16, the Dassault Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Saab Gripen and the Mig 35.
Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin highlighted how, if selected, it would supply the Indian Air Force with upgraded F-16 IN combat jets, with modifications including new radar.
Similarly, Boeing is offering the Super Hornets as F/A18-INs.
"Our proposal team worked diligently to fully understand and meet the requirements set out by the Indian Ministry of Defence", Boeing's Jim Albaugh commented.
"We are offering India the best-value, most advanced and proven multi-role combat fighter in production today."
340 US Navy Super Hornets
Over 340 Super Hornets have so far been delivered to the US Navy.
Australia, meanwhile, has 24 on order, while a number of other air forces are thought to be interested.
"One of the concerns here in India is the cost of owning and maintaining combat fighters over their lifetime", Boeing's Vivek Lall commented.
"The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet offers a very attractive life-cycle-cost dynamic, since the fighter won't need a scheduled visit to a maintenance depot until it has clocked a minimum of 6,000 hours of flying time, and even well beyond that."
Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert
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