US Fighter Jets complete Operational Demo In Goa

New Delhi: The US Fighter Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet has successfully completed operational demonstration tests at Indian Naval Station Hansa in Goa. The American Defence Giant said in a release on Wednesday that the tests reinforced the Super Hornet's ability to effectively and safely operate off Indian Navy carriers.

Two US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets completed multiple ski-jumps, roll-in and fly-in arrestment, as well as performance flights, in a variety of weights in the air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-surface configurations, meeting the Indian Navy test requirements.
The Indian Navy plans to buy 57 multirole fighter jets for the aircraft carrier Vikrant, for which it started the process four years ago.

Four aircraft are vying for the deal – French Rafale fighter jets, which have already completed trials in Goa; Russia's MiG-29K, Sweden's Gripen and the American Super Hornet, an upgraded and larger version of the legacy F-18 Hornet that served with the US Navy.

At present, the Indian Navy operates MiG-29K fighters from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

Wednesday's tests of the Super Hornet in Goa followed eight ski-jumps in various weights and configurations during previous tests held at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in US Maryland in late 2020, which showed the Super Hornet's ability to operate from a short take-off but arrested recovery, or STOBAR, aircraft carrier, Boeing said.

"With the Super Hornet Block III, the Indian Navy would not only get the most advanced platform but would also benefit from tactics, upgrades and knowledge related to the naval aviation ecosystem that the US Navy offers," Alain Garcia, vice president of Boeing's India business development, said in the statement.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet has been designed and built for carrier operations, and is fully compliant with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant aircraft carriers, the company said.

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