India conducts Super Hornet operational tests

F/A-18E Super Hornet demonstrated its ability to operate from aircraft carriers with a springboard during operational tests in India.

Boeing reported about this.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet successfully completed operational demonstration tests at Indian Naval Station Hansa in Goa.

According to Boeing, the tests confirmed the Super Hornet’s ability to operate effectively and safely from Indian Navy carriers.

The US defense company has released a video featuring a demonstration flight using a short take-off from a springboard and landing on a short runway that simulates the flight deck of Indian aircraft carriers.

The Indian Navy plans to purchase 57 multi-role fighters for the new Vikrant aircraft carrier.

There are four contenders for the role of the main fighter – the French Rafale, the Russian MiG-29K, the Swedish Gripen, and the American Super Hornet.

The Super Hornet tests in India followed the flights of F/A-18s of various weights and configurations during preliminary tests conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, USA, in late 2020. They demonstrated the possibility of a short take off from the springboard.

Currently, the Indian Navy operates MiG-29K fighters on the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.

Boeing believes that if the choice is made in favor of the Super Hornet, it will give India access to advanced global technologies used by the US Navy and other countries. And most importantly, it will save billions of dollars needed to create similar systems.

Another important aspect is that Boeing offers India to localize fighters directly in the country, involving more than 200 local enterprises in their production.

The Super Hornet is the main fighter of the US Navy. The fighter belongs to the 4+ generation and is a successor of the F/A-18 Hornet.