Ironduke

IAF pilots to evaluate Boeing's F-18 warplanes

Press Trust of India
Tue, 18 Jul 2006, 00:21

FARNBOROUGH: Indian Air Force pilots are expected to test fly Boeing's F-18 fighter aircraft to evaluate the American war machine as the company is one of the main bidders in the race to sell 126 frontline jet planes to India.
Two test pilots from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Air Marshals AK Nagalia and Bhushan Gokhale, are at the Farnborough Air Show to evaluate the planes, an HAL official said on Monday. India plans to buy 126 fighter planes to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 warplanes and top aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Lockheed, which produces the F-16 warplanes, are in the fray to bag the major deal.
A Boeing spokesman said several meetings with Indian Air Force representatives have taken place and it is awaiting a response from the Indian side with regard to the F-18, a twin-engine multi-role combat jet, which, the company claims, is one of most advanced warplanes in the world.
He said Boeing is also exploring the possibility of manufacturing aircraft components and assembling the jets in India.

sukhoi

Hornets are not all Suitable for IAF requirements. They cannot be suitable for Any role.

Inducting F-18s in IAF inventory means to change the Whole Tactics and formations of the Aiforce.

They are more Disadvantages then Advantages. The main two problems the IAF will face is
1.New Aircraft and need to put more $$$$ on Infrastructure and Facilities.
2.Making Russians Unhappy
3.Cannot be Suitable for any Requirement.


They are not even Suitable for Indian Navy also. F-18s cannot be used in Indian Aircraft Carreirs, The CNS cited the inherent incompatibility of the Super Hornet with the aircraft carriers of the Indian Navy, which incorporate the concept of Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR), in absence of the steam catapults necessary for the Super Hornets for take-off. On the other hand, the Indian aircraft carriers utilise the “ski-jump” that forms an integral part of the STOBAR operations.

The Only Western Aircraft which can be suitable for Indian Navy is the (STOVL) version of the F-35B and chances are very high to see F-35 in Indian Colours

Tronic

What??? This is a new spin.... last time, I was reading on how the F-18 was leading the competition.... it is suppose to be the top contendor over all the rest, in terms of maintability, engine life, total overall costs (including life cycle costs)... I don't know about navy, but I believe it still certainly is leading the air force competition...

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Akshay

I can understand the logistics nightmare involved. Its more like asking a Microsoft programmer to switch over to shell programming. Hard as Hell!!! But, in corporate world.. NO!! is never taken for an answer.

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Stitch

In answer to your reasons:

1. They'll have to get new infrastructure & facilities regardless of what aircraft they end up buying, even if it's another MiG.

2. The Indians aren't too concerned with "Making Russians Unhappy" anymore (though they might've been a few years ago). In fact, India is currently looking to better their relations with the West, in particular the US, due to changing global geopolitics (we're not very happy with the Pakistanis, either).

3. "Cannot Be Suitable For Any Requirement": what does that mean? And are we talking about the "C/D" or the "E/F"? Most of the other countries who have purchased the Hornet did so, in part, because it is a multi-engine aircraft (i.e.: Australia, Switzerland, etc.), and because of it's upgradability.

sukhoi

First of all i was wrong about the Infrastructure Facilities for F-18s so i will take my comment Back

Now coming back, Dude The Migs and Mirages are Different Story. Thanks to HAL and other Avation Company Infrastructure for the MiG, and other versions are not at all problem.

Whereas when it comes to F-18s. Well Hornets are New and we have no idea about it, But Infrastructure facilities and Spare Parts for F-18s will wont be a problem because Boeing Invests $1.5B in Indian Aerospace which will reportedly be used to set up facilities; conduct research and development; build a major maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility; and source software and other equipment. Also not to forget the Comple Transfer of Technology and License to Built

So, Infrastructure for F-18swillwont be Problem




Agree,Again i was wrong but dont think that India will leave Russia, Indian Govt already cleared that Russia will be still India most Arms Seller.

The Russians will wont be Unhappy if the MRCA is give to US or any European Country. Russia already Grabbed many Deals
Some of the New Indo-Russian Deals are
-Upgradation of Mig-29 , 900 Million dollars
-Delivery of another 40 Su-30MKI completely.
-Another 80 Mi-17s.
-Medium Transport Aircraft Joint Venture
-Another 3 Krivak-III Frigates
-And many more more. These are just recently signed deals.

Even if MRCA be given to US, MIG Company will sure have large piece of Cake of MRCA Deal, But if they wont get the Dealthen we may see the End of MiG Company

For Russia MRCA deal is Life and Death Situation for their Avation Companies.




Well This part is making me worrierd about. There is a Difference between India and other countires like Australia. India is a large Country and has a Different requirements, Range and Payload of F-18s are also a Problem

First of all .For What Role the F-18s can play in IAF Fleet??. We already Many Variety of Aircrafts for Different role. IAF will take a of time to think



Inducting F-18s means the IAF needs to Change its Tactics and Formations Completly.

Another thing is that. F-18 has less range and Payload and increasing its payload means it will kill its maneuvering.

MarquezRazor

Shouldnt this be posted in South Asian defence section?

Not really...Mig has many other things in hand...besides India may co-develop the 5th gen aircraft with Mig.

What else?Multirole combat aircraft.F18s can be used as a potent strike platform.They are no slouch in BVR A2A either.

Again not really...whatever the aircraft other than Mig29s...their tactics have to be worked out...and they will be done.That doesnt mean they will need to change tactics completely.Anycase IAF is and has been operating several types of aircraft...so there shouldnt be too much problem with inducting another type.IAF is now fairly mature at air warfare both BVR and WVR...so developing tactics wouldnt be a problem.And TACDE is there.But yes..the infrastructure will have to be set up.

Less range and payload than what?All a/c have its goods and bads.Hornet is better than many of the MRCA contenders...plus if theres APG79...then that will be a bonus.


But as always the problem with all American goodies is that they come with long strings attached.

highsea

How many BVR kills does the IAF have?

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MarquezRazor

Many..in exercises.

Tronic

lol.... how is that related to topic at hand?

joey2

since 40 additiional MKI's r confirmed i highly doubt it'll be hornets.

I think it'll be Rafale.
Lets wait and see.

Tronic

Everyone is talking about Rafales but I sincerely think it will be Hornets; what special advantages do the Rafales offer? I think the Super Hornet's AESA is probably the biggest attraction and much more then Rafale can offer...

MarquezRazor

I have some info telling me it could be the Rafale...but I wont be so stupid so as to put 100$ on it..

nutter

Erm.... go get a map.

Compare the size of India to Australia.

You'll find that India is probably smaller than *Western Australia*...


Just checked in fact, Australia is more than double the surface area of India (3,287,000 km2 vs 7,686,000 km2), and of course some of our territory is islands....

Couple that with the fact that our population density and settled area is far far smaller, and i think you'll find that if anyone needs range, its us.

percentage_plyr

yeah but man,who's attacking u guys?? indonesians??! India is in a much more hostile n'hood.

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