Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet to be Made in India

Boeing on February 21 held discussions with its partners, Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), on the proposed F/A-18 Super Hornet ‘Make in India’ plan at Aero India 2019.

The partners are developing comprehensive plans to set-up a new ‘factory of the future’ to manufacture Super Hornet locally. The programme is expected to work with several Indian suppliers to grow a thriving defence aerospace base which could accelerate other programmes. The facility will create a world-class, highly trained aerospace workforce.

This unique public-private partnership is intended to bring Boeing, HAL and MDS’ global scale and supply chain, its best-in-industry precision manufacturing processes, as well as the unrivalled experience in designing and optimising aerospace production facilities to expand India’s aerospace ecosystem and help realise the ‘Make in India’ vision.




Boeing’s Super Hornet is a proven platform that offers the fighter of the future for India – networked, survivable and reliable. Introduced in 2007, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is the world’s preeminent carrier capable aircraft and best suited for India’s naval fighter requirements – designed from day one for carrier operations. The Super Hornet is highly capable across the full mission spectrum for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and is a true multi-role aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defences, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. This, coupled with designed-in stealth and the right payload capacity, makes the Super Hornet the ideal fit for India.