Smruti D

Boeing has set its eyes on the Indian Navy’s carrier-based fighter programme. This became clear when it offered F/A 18 Block III Super Hornet with the same enhancements as given to the US Navy at the pre-Farnborough Air Show round table held virtually on July 15.

“The F/A-18 Super Hornet will enhance collaboration between the US Navy and Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),” said vice president of International Sales for Strike, Surveillance and Mobility, Thom Breckenridge. “Boeing’s plan is to offer ‘By India, For India’ sustainment programme that will build on other successful sustainment programmes that Boeing is executing for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy today, to sustain, modify and upgrade F/A-18 Super Hornet from India,” added Breckenridge.

Briefly referring to the current geopolitical tensions on India’s borders and the Indian Ocean, the speakers iterated that Boeing considers India to be a very important market with significant opportunities. A press statement, released after the briefing, said