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[marcos98]

Boeing confident with Indian Super Hornet bid​

Boeing confident with Indian Super Hornet bid
By Craig Hoyle

Boeing is optimistic it will make the shortlist for India's medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) requirement in 2011 with its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, says Rick McCrary, capture team manager for its Defense, Space & Security business unit.

With India having completed in-country flight evaluations of the six candidate airframes, McCrary believes a shortlist will be issued next year to narrow the field, most likely after the Aero India air show in Bangalore.

"I think it will be the heavy twins," he says, referring to the Super Hornet and rival offers with the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and RSK MiG-35. "They're looking for more serious medium combat aircraft, in weight and performance," he says.

Lockheed Martin and Saab are also pursuing the MMRCA contract offering their single-engined F-16IN and Gripen NG designs.

The Indian air force is seeking an initial 126 aircraft, with an option for 50% more at the same unit price, but McCrary says the service could eventually need up to 400 of the winning design. "They've got a huge air force, but it's ageing," he notes.

Deliveries will start within 36 months of a contract award, which is expected to be made in 2012. The first 18 aircraft will be completed by the successful bidder before final assembly and manufacturing responsibilities are progressively transferred to India. "This is a 20-year programme," McCrary notes.

In the case of Boeing, the company would first transfer final assembly and test of the Super Hornet for India from its St Louis site in Missouri and then "work back from there."

McCrary says New Delhi's recent selection of GE Aviation's F414 engine - which also powers the Super Hornet - for the MkII version of its Tejas light combat aircraft could help Boeing's bid for MMRCA. "We think they're disconnected, but would certainly like to think there's some synergy there."

Boeing also continues to answer requests for information about the Super Hornet from the United Arab Emirates about its new fighter requirement. France is also pursuing a proposed sale of its Rafale to the UAE's air force.

 

[Hulk]

The Indian air force is seeking an initial 126 aircraft, with an option for 50% more at the same unit price, but McCrary says the service could eventually need up to 400 of the winning design. "They've got a huge air force, but it's ageing," he notes.

Wow 400 would be good number, this is why MRCA is so important.

 

[sancho]

hmmmm Brother different people different perception...

...Though i dont alias with his view on Rafael and EF .. though he agrees they fall under Medium but points intelligently as Upper medium and skip them.. what the heck is upper or lower? Anything between the range is medium.

That's what I don't understand, why so many people taking Rafale as an heavy fighter, although it has similar size and weight as the F16.
The only real difference are the 2 engines, but that doesn't make it a heavy fighter, or on the upper medium class.

This Commodore gave an intelligent analysis pointing Maintenance on size and other parameters.. and the TOT offset called production tech
and not the design tech..

True, but based on that, his conclusion that Gripen and NG are the best choices doesn't fit anymore. LM is restricted in terms of customisation, Gripen can't offer good offsets in return.

Nowerdays this MMRCA has become like a soap with lot of twist and turns.. running for years...

Totally agree!

 

[sancho]

Wow 400 would be good number, this is why MRCA is so important.

Have some big doubt about that, because the production of so many fighters would run way too long and we will produce FGFA, maybe even AMCA by that time.

 

[rsingh]

400, is Boeing giving these planes for free. I also want one. Traffic in ghaziabad is very chaotic.

 

[kish]

400, is Boeing giving these planes for free. I also want one. Traffic in ghaziabad is very chaotic.

but fuel will not free

riginally Posted by indianrabbit View Post
Wow 400 would be good number, this is why MRCA is so important.

we are already running other programme,, so does we need 400 mrca ?

 

[saurav]

So,now we will be buying 400 MRCAs...Can i get one ...Roads are not very rider friendly..

 

[kingdurgaking]

So,now we will be buying 400 MRCAs...Can i get one ...Roads are not very rider friendly..

Its a speculation dude.. all blocks will be freed when Tejas MK2 turns out to be successful...

 

[jha]

 

[jha]

 

[jha]

 

[jha]

 

[jha]

---------- Post added at 02:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:05 PM ----------

 

[jha]

 

[jha]

One of the good points in the whole article is the possible integration of METEOR on Su-30 MKI....What a fighter it will become with AESA+BRAHMOS+METEOR+K-100 ...