Posted on 05/13/2010 8:28:06 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
As the race for the IAF bid to procure 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft enters the home stretch, the United States Navy vouched for the versatility of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, one of the six aircraft in competition, with features closer to a fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
The Indian Air Force is scheduled to complete flight evaluation trials during the month with the last of the six competitors. The Super Hornet from the Boeing stable has gone through all three phases of trial across different weather conditions in India and weapons at the manufacturers' locations.
The Naval Air Station, Oceana here in the U.S. southeast coast, has under its wing 17 operating squadrons of these fighter jets including 10 Super Hornet squadrons that fly from both the land base and the aircraft carrier.
Emphasising that F/A18 would continue to be the U.S. Navy's workhorse even after the induction of the futuristic F-35, Cmdr Mike Gusko said the new version would complement the existing fleet of Super Hornets, which would continue to serve well beyond 2035.
He said the aircraft could operate from dry, wet and icy runways, an ability fitting in with the overall requirements of the IAF.
The Block-II aircraft (Super Hornet) comes with ability to operate in all-weather providing air defence superiority, precision attack, close-air support, and an advanced radar for weapons system.
Apart from combat manoeuvrability and unlimited angle of attack, which its test pilots demonstrated to the visiting group, it had the active electronically scanned array radar (AESA), the Navy official said. The AESA radar is being upgraded and the version would be on offer.
The Commanding Officer of the Center for Aviation Technical Training Unit, Cdr John Wood, said the NAS, Oceana facility also had both maintenance and training establishment
(Excerpt) Read more at beta.thehindu.com ...
Ping.
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Of interest?
Wikipedia has a nice chart for the competing aircraft:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_MRCA_competition#Comparison_of_the_competing_aircraft
Were it my call to make, I’d prolly go with the Super Hornet. But I could see the IAF choosing the MiG-35, too, as they already have 29’s and Sukhoi-30’s.
It is a nice chart. Thanks for mentioning it.
Do they make a “non-navalized” version of the F-18, which doesn’t have to be able to make carrier landings and takeoffs?
Yes, The RAAF usea a ‘non navalized version”. In other words, there are “non navalized versions”.
I assume the “non-navalized” version is superior to the carrier one in many performance metrics, including weight and acceleration.
ping
No point in ‘de-navalising’ an aircraft since that’s liklely to add to costs and delay induction for what will only be a marginal improvement in performance at best. Boeing has already claimed that they have presented simulations of the SH using the Indian navy’s ski-jump carriers.
The Mig-35 is the least capable and the least preferred of all contenders. It has little to offer technology wise and is not in or likely to be in service with anyone. Besides it’s Russian-the IAF is buying SU-30s and will buy the PAK-FA, so if the the Mig gets selected, the IAF becomes an Indian edition of the Russian air force.
The Super Hornet and Eurofighter in addition to their tech advantages could also offer commonality with the Indian LCA, which will likely choose between either of the two engines used by those two fighters.
Maybe I’m the only one, but I see IAF and I think Israeli Air Force - not Indian.
LOL, not a complaint mind you - just a comment.
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