F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet: Competition heats up for naval fighter deal ahead of Vikrant’s commissioning

Source: The post is based on the article “F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet: Competition heats up for naval fighter deal ahead of Vikrant’s commissioning” published in Hindustan Times on 25th August 2022.

What is the News?

Ahead of India commissioning its first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, the US aviation major Boeing has proposed the Indian Navy to choose its F/A 18 Super Hornet fighter jet.

What is IAC Vikrant?

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What is the F/A-18 Super Hornet?

F/A-18 Super Hornet is a premier frontline naval fighter jet. It is the newest and most advanced tactical aircraft in the US Navy inventory. 

Purpose: It has been designed as a carrier-based fighter for high-loading, high-stress operations and requires minimal support equipment.

Why is the F/A-18 Super Hornet compatible with IAC Vikrant?

It has been designed and built for carrier operations and is fully compliant with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. For instance:

– It will be able to operate on the deck, in the hangar and on the lifts of the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers.

– The Super Hornet’s Precision Landing Mode software is specially designed to reduce pilot workload while landing on the Indian Navy’s Vikramaditya carrier by maintaining the proper glide slope and proper approach speeds.

– It comes in single-seater (E-Variant) and two-seater variants (F-Variant), and both variants are carrier compatible to perform the full range of combat missions and can fully operate from the carrier deck. Furthermore, the twin-seat fighter can also be used as a trainer.