Featured F/A-18 Super Hornet Is Now Undergoing Ski Jump Launch Trials For The Indian Navy

[Yaseen1]

tejas were also tested for aircraft carriers so they will be enough and will also cost less

not necessarily
We had 44 Mig29K/kubs out of which Vikramaditya could only accommodate 24 Mig29
Hence the second squadron was deployed in Leh in support of IAF

F/A18 E/F Superhornet has a better chance of winning the Indian navy deal becoz of its Foldable wings which would allow NAVY to deploy 30 of these on INS VIKRANT Compared to 22-24 Rafale M

And yes
If Indian Navy does goes ahead and order 57 Superhornet ,
Then you might see the spare 27-30 aircrafts being deployed with IAF in times of need

This is called Joint Force structure, where assets are shared between forces and deployed where they are most required

 

[Figaro]

second is almost ready, navy is pushing for 3rd one

The INS Vikrant was laid down in 2009 and will be extremely lucky to launch by 2023. This is a very very very terrible track record. Judging from India's economic status and their current shipbuilding expertise/MIC, they would be lucky to have a third carrier commissioned by mid century.

tejas were also tested for aircraft carriers so they will be enough and will also cost less

Dude why are you comparing a flying coffin to a combat proven Superhornet? You are giving their Tejas way too much credibility here. The standard Tejas still has a bunch of issues, never mind the carrier variant. IMO India should use the money saved by cancelling the Tejas program to purchase the Superhornets.

 

[Yaseen1]

i am suggesting better option for india considering high poverty in india

The INS Vikrant was laid down in 2009 and will be extremely lucky to launch by 2023. This is a very very very terrible track record. Judging from India's economic status and their current shipbuilding expertise/MIC, they would be lucky to have a third carrier commissioned by mid century.

Dude why are you comparing a flying coffin to a combat proven Superhornet? You are giving their Tejas way too much credibility here. The standard Tejas still has a bunch of issues, never mind the carrier variant. IMO India should use the money saved by cancelling the Tejas program to purchase the Superhornets.

 

[Archie]

tejas were also tested for aircraft carriers so they will be enough and will also cost less

Tejas has managed to take off and land from INS Vikramaditya
However it cannot take off with adequate fuel and weapons
Even the Mig29k can only take off with 4 A2A/ ASHM missiles from the carrier
If we want to launch Mig29K with its full combat load of 4 R77, 2 R73 and 2 Kh135 AshM, then it requires buddy refueling to top up its fuel tank mid flight

 

[SSG_Commando]

I like Indians to buy hornets along with Eurofighters and Gripens as well. Matter fact we should offer JF-17s to them as well

 

[Archie]

I like Indians to buy hornets along with Eurofighters and Gripens as well. Matter fact we should offer JF-17s to them as well

jokes apart

it does look like IAF will go with Rafales and Navy will go with F/A 18 Superhornets

and Pakistanis will continue to buy JF17
Coz it’s all they can afford
Since no other country will offer soft loans to purchase combat aircraft

 

[Hephaestus]

I have my reservations on F/A-18 Super Hornet coming to India. IAC1 & INS Vikramaditya both are more suited to Mig29.
Can someone clarify?

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

Super Hornet isn't compatible with Vikrant. Maybe the third carrier if India builds it.

 

[Archie]

Super Hornet isn't compatible with Vikrant. Maybe the third carrier if India builds it.

you should read the op article before commenting
It says that Superhornet is testing for Stobar operations
Which is required for Indian navy

 

[Archie]

I have my reservations on F/A-18 Super Hornet coming to India. IAC1 & INS Vikramaditya both are more suited to Mig29.
Can someone clarify?

whole idea of this procurement is to purchase fighters for INS Vikrant
Our fleet of Mig29Ks is not sufficient to equip both carriers
Also navy wants a fighter which could serve till 2060
That leaves out Mig29k since IAF Will begin retiring them in 2034 and Navy will retire them in 2037.
That leaves F/A18 and Rafale M as the only viable contenders
Both of them are being certified for STOBAR operations.

Rafale is a better aircraft in terms of technology and performance
However super hornet is far cheaper and has foldable wings , which would allow more aircrafts to be carried
In times of war Vikrant would be able to carry 30 F/A18 as compared to 22-24 Rafale M

those additional 6-8 aircrafts could make a difference when facing off against a Chinese CBG with 40 fighters

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

MiG-29 is older than F-18 by only 1 year. 1982 compared to 1983. There is practically no advantage F-18 has over MiG-29.

Mikoyan MiG-29 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Archie]

MiG-29 is older than F-18 by only 1 year. 1982 compared to 1983. There is practically no advantage F-18 has over MiG-29.

Mikoyan MiG-29 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It’s not about the age but capabilities
Also SuperHornet is a newer design dating back to 1998, the 1980s legacy hornets are being retired from active service by US and Australia
Also the Block 3 superhornet offered to India is far more capable than the Mig29Ks

You can google the performance advantage

It’s like the difference between Basic Su27k and Su35S

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

It’s not about the age but capabilities
Also SuperHornet is a newer design dating back to 1998, the 1980s legacy hornets are being retired from active service by US and Australia
Also the Block 3 superhornet offered to India is far more capable than the Mig29Ks

You can google the performance advantage

It’s like the difference between Basic Su27k and Su35S

F-18E first flight 1995. Its design is an evolution of F-18C the same way MiG-29K is developed from MiG-29. There's nothing special about F-18E. It's bigger and that means bigger RCS, a distinctive disadvantage. MiG-29K can be upgraded with Zhuk-AE radar and is in no way inferior to F-18E in terms of capability. There's a reason F-18A/C sold very well but only the US and Australia ever bought F-18E.

 

[Hephaestus]

whole idea of this procurement is to purchase fighters for INS Vikrant
Our fleet of Mig29Ks is not sufficient to equip both carriers
Also navy wants a fighter which could serve till 2060
That leaves out Mig29k since IAF Will begin retiring them in 2034 and Navy will retire them in 2037.
That leaves F/A18 and Rafale M as the only viable contenders
Both of them are being certified for STOBAR operations.

Rafale is a better aircraft in terms of technology and performance
However super hornet is far cheaper and has foldable wings , which would allow more aircrafts to be carried
In times of war Vikrant would be able to carry 30 F/A18 as compared to 22-24 Rafale M

those additional 6-8 aircrafts could make a difference when facing off against a Chinese CBG with 40 fighters

Thanks!
So, if IN goes for SH's are we going to get the Block III variant. Also, are we looking at some Growler configs.

 

[SSG_Commando]

jokes apart

it does look like IAF will go with Rafales and Navy will go with F/A 18 Superhornets

and Pakistanis will continue to buy JF17
Coz it’s all they can afford
Since no other country will offer soft loans to purchase combat aircraft

Good for you. Buy Eurofighter and F-15s as well.