Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet completes demo for Indian Navy

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American F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft has completed its operational demonstration at a naval station in Goa as aerospace major Boeing looks to secure the Indian Navy's contract for deck-based aircraft.

The Navy is looking to buy a fleet of fighter aircraft for its indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant, which is set to be commissioned next month, under the government-to-government route.

Two US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets executed 'multiple roll-in and fly-in arrestments, ski-jumps and performance flights in various weights in the air-to-ground, air-to-air, and air-to-surface configurations, Boeing said, claiming that its aircraft met the Indian Navy test requirements.

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Alain Garcia, vice president of India business development at Boeing Defence, Space and Security, said that his team was privileged to showcase F/A-18 Super Hornet's compatibility with Indian carriers.

Hard selling the fighter jet, Garcia said that the F/A-18 Super Hornet, as the premier frontline multi-role naval fighter, was one of the world's most affordable multi-role fighters. The development of the next-generation Block III capability for the Super Hornet will be game-changing for India, he added.

He assured that not only would the Indian Navy be getting the most advanced platform -- Super Hornet Block III -- but the force would also benefit from naval aviation tactics and upgrades that the US Navy offers.

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The Navy has shortlisted F/A-18E Super Hornet and Dassault Aviation's Rafale M aircraft four years after it initiated the process to acquire 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier. However, that number could be around 30 initially.

The Indian Navy currently operates Russian MiG-29K fighters from its sole aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The Navy's Request For Information for procurement of the deck-based fighter aircraft sought to know the percentage of Transfer of Technology that the firms were willing to share with India.