Posted on 02/02/2011 7:47:59 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Boeing to unveil stealthier F/A-18 aircraft
Published: Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011, 19:02 IST
By Hemanth CS | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA
A mocked up version of Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet will be among the many metal birds to debut at the upcoming Aero India 2011.
Boeing, which is one of the contenders for the $10 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract, will unveil a stealthier version of the F/A-18 at the air show to be held at the Air Force Station Yelahanka between February 9 and 13.
Boeing’s vice president and country head for defence, space and security, Vivek Lal, said that one of the two F/A-18s which will be performing at the bi-annual show will be configured with conformal fuel tanks, enhanced performance engines, spherical missile laser warning, enclosed weapons pad, next generation cockpit and internal infrared search and tracking system.
The mocked up aircraft, which will be unveiled at the Aero India will be the first F/A-18 to be developed as part of the ‘International Super Hornet Roadmap’ programme which was announced by the US-based aerospace company at last year’s Farnborough Air Show in the UK.
Labelled as the next evolution of Block II Super Hornet, the aircraft is said to have features “which increase survivability, situational awareness, and performance for customers”.
Lal said that if India inked the 126 MMRCA deal with Boeing, it would also have the option of shaping its technology in future. “We are putting up a platform which will be combat worthy for the next 30 to 40 years,” said Lal.
Ping!!
We HAD a “platform that will be combat worthy for the next 30-40 years.” It was called the F-22 Raptor.
Double secret stealthier...
Hmmm...Our dear leader scrapped that in favor of the FU-22 Rupture...
The advantage of the FU-22 is that is lots lighter by not carrying ammo and rockets and is limited to an environmentally acceptable 40lbs of fuel.
Jeez, it’s like they have been reading my posts for years!
With every passing day I warm over more to the SuperBug.
The improvements sharpen its already hefty strike capability. But I’m not sure if it will make it a more agile fighter. The CFTs, addition of new sensors and aides and the ‘stealth weapon pod’ mean extra weight.
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