The Indian Navy will begin flight trials of Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet carrier-based multi-role fighters on May 23 at the shore-based test facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa, as the US craft is one of the contenders for 26 fighters onboard the INS Vikrant indigenous aircraft carrier, which is set to be commissioned soon.
The Indian Navy is slated to purchase 26 multi-role fighter aircraft for INS Vikrant, with eight of these aircraft being two-seaters that will be utilized for flying training and operations. The Super Hornet is a tried-and-true weapon platform with an internal rotating gun and 11 hardpoints for carrying air to air and air to surface missiles, as well as laser-guided bunker busting bombs.
The Rafale Maritime Strike Fighter is another competitor fighter aircraft for the INS Vikrant, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to commission on August 15, 2022. In January 2022, the Indian Navy tested the Rafale fighter, with the French providing four aircraft on lease for initial training and operational purposes. The Indian Air Force has already purchased 36 Rafale multi-role aircraft, with two major maintenance stations in Ambala in northern India and Hashimara in West Bengal.
Alain Garcia, vice-president of India business development for Boeing Defense, Space and Security, and Global Services, who flew the Super Hornet in the US Navy, previously stated that the company’s variant was suitable for India, emphasizing the importance of the Block III design in generating a uniform tactical picture.
