It has been proven by Boeing that the F/A-18 Super Hornet can launch two Boeing AGM-84 Harpoon missiles from Indian aircraft carriers, exceeding New Delhi’s requirement for its multirole carrier-borne fighters (MRCBF) programme.
According to Alain Garcia, vice-president of international business development at Boeing India, the capability was shown off between late May and early June 2022 at the Indian Navy’s Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa, India.
The displays were carried out as a part of tests to confirm the F/capacity A-18’s to fly from Indian ships.
The Indian Navy intends to acquire 57 carrier-borne fighter aircraft under the MRCBF, which it would use to fly from its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), which will be designated INS Vikrant once it is commissioned.
Early in July 2022, the 37,000-tonne ship finished its last sea trials. It will be put into service in August 2022.
Boeing sent two F/A-18 airframes to the SBTF to show the planes’ capability to fly from Indian ships as part of its pitch for the $6 billion deal, according to Garcia.
The flight deck and ski-jump slope on the SBTF are closely modelled after Indian carriers, and they are outfitted with the same short take-off but arrested recovery (STOBAR) technology as the upcoming INS Vikrant.
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