A VERY CLOSE RACE 
Geopolitics|October 2022
Will Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft outshine Dassault Aviation's Rafale arine jet as the Indian Navy's deck-based fighter? ARITRA BANERJEE asks experts for an answer
A VERY CLOSE RACE 

India is looking to modernise its naval fighter fleet amidst the launch. of the 'Made-In-India' aircraft carrier- Vikrant. The Indian Navy (IN) is looking for sophisticated naval fighters- and Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet Block-III and Dassault Aviation's Rafale-M have emerged as the top contenders.

The IN made a tender announcement in 2017 for 57 fighter jets. At the time, the tender's worth was estimated at $6.6 million. The navy will initially buy 18 single-seat and eight twin-seat jets. These aircraft will be operational on INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The former has been designed to house 30-35 aircraft with the air wing expected to comprise MIG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31, MH-60R multirole helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

The current strength of MiG 29(K)the jets the Indian Navy presently uses is insufficient to provide the numbers required to embark on two operational aircraft carriers. This means that the IN needs to finalise its deck-based fighter quickly to complete the air wing for Vikrant. It needs a fighter that is not only Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR)-capable but also able to deliver nuclear loads, air-to-air missiles, air-to ground missiles and precision-guided bombs.

The country's fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fighter project is still years away.

from becoming a tangible option. The only naval fighters that meet the requirements of the navy now are: Boeing's FA-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Aviation's Rafale Marine.

F/A-18 versus Rafale-M

Both aircraft completed trials at Indian Naval Station Hansa in Goa earlier this year, kicking off a head-to-head competition for the deal.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2022 من Geopolitics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2022 من Geopolitics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من GEOPOLITICS مشاهدة الكل
THE NEW WAVE OF MARINE LANDING CRAFT.
Geopolitics

THE NEW WAVE OF MARINE LANDING CRAFT.

BAE Systems' new Littoral Strike Craft combines advanced stealth, comfort, and modularity to redefine modern amphibious mission capabilities.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
PROVEN AIP FOR S80 SUBMARINES
Geopolitics

PROVEN AIP FOR S80 SUBMARINES

The BEST AIP system is capable of operating at any depth and in all operational conditions, allowing it to adapt to any Navy mission and making it the most advanced AIP system on the market.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AI SECURE, SCALABLE, AND INNOVATIVE
Geopolitics

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AI SECURE, SCALABLE, AND INNOVATIVE

Tardid leverages modular AI designs, robust cybersecurity, and adaptability to deliver secure and scalable solutions, integrating emerging technologies and refining strategies through realworld deployments, shares AASTHA VERMA, Chief Operating Officer, Tardid Technologies, with Geopolitics

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
TOT-AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUBMARINE MANUFACTURING
Geopolitics

TOT-AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUBMARINE MANUFACTURING

India's transition from offset strategies to fostering self-reliance through technology transfer (TOT) and local assembly highlights the significance of global collaborations like thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in shaping a robust, indigenised defence ecosystem, a perspective shared by KHALIL RAHMAN, CEO, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems India.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
ENHANCING INDIAN NAVAL AVIATION
Geopolitics

ENHANCING INDIAN NAVAL AVIATION

JYOTI SINGH reports how a powerful Indian naval air arm will prove to be the biggest seabased conventional level deterrence, both for the tactical and strategic battlefields

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2024
PROJECT-751-30 YEARS ON
Geopolitics

PROJECT-751-30 YEARS ON

India's ambitious Project-751, aimed at procuring six advanced submarines, remains stalled nearly three decades after its inception.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
WINGS OVER THE OCEAN
Geopolitics

WINGS OVER THE OCEAN

Indian Naval Aviation is dramatically upgrading its combat potency with its latest inductions, writes Atul Chandra

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
HOW INDIA IS RESHAPING REGIONAL DETERRENCE, MARITIME DOMINANCE
Geopolitics

HOW INDIA IS RESHAPING REGIONAL DETERRENCE, MARITIME DOMINANCE

In the theatre of modern geopolitics, control over the seas is synonymous with strategic dominance. With its vast coastline and critical position in the Indo-Pacific, India has always recognised the importance of maritime strength, outlines GIRISH LINGANNA

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
BUILDERS NAVY
Geopolitics

BUILDERS NAVY

The Indian Navy's modernisation efforts are picking up steam, with domestic shipyards running at full capacity, reports MIKE RAJKUMAR

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
THE NAVY'S NEED FOR SUBMARINES
Geopolitics

THE NAVY'S NEED FOR SUBMARINES

While aircraft carriers have their place, submarines provide India with a more flexible, cost-effective, and survivable option for projecting power and maintaining deterrence in a complex and evolving strategic environment, argues AMIT GUPTA

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 2024