India eyes Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet for ageing air force in latest twist to jet shopping saga
France’s Dassault Systemes SE’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also potential contenders
Boeing Co, considered the front runner in the race to supply the Indian navy with new fighter jets, is now in contention for a much bigger US$15 billion order after the government abruptly asked the air force to consider the twin-engined planes.
Until recently, Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-16 and Saab AB’s Gripen were in a two-horse race supply at least 100 single-engine jets to build up the Indian Air Force’s fast-depleting combat fleet.
Both had offered to build the planes in India in collaboration with local companies as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to build a domestic industrial base and cut back on arms imports.
But last month the government asked the air force to open up the competition to twin-engined aircraft and to evaluate Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, a defence ministry source said. That jet is a finalist for the Indian navy’s US$8 billion to US$9 billion contract for 57 fighters.
The defence ministry plans to within weeks issue a request for information (RFI), the first stage of a procurement process, for a fighter to be built in India.
The competition will be open to both single and twin-engined jets, the official said, but both Lockheed and Saab said they had not been informed about the new requirements.
