Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet kicks off IAF’s MMRCA field trials

Bangalore: Boeing Integrated Defence System's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role fighter will be the first to kick off the field trials for the $11 billion, 126 medium range, multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) tender of the Indian Air Force in Bangalore. The Super Hornet is one amongst six contenders for the massive contract, with the others being the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Swedish Gripen JAS-39, the French Dassault's Rafale, the Russian MiG-35 and Lockheed Martin's F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The F/A-18E/F is an all-weather, carrier-capable multi-role fighter, which is designed to attack both ground and aerial targets.

Two F/A-18s - one single-seater ('E') and the other a twin-seater ('F')- will take part in the MMRCA flight evaluation trials (FET) commencing 17 August. The trials are to be held over three different locations across the country, representing three differing climatic conditions – humid/normal, hot and cold.

Bangalore is the chosen venue for the evaluation under normal/humid climatic conditions.

According to official sources, a full-scale briefing for the Boeing team has taken place by the Indian MMRCA team on Saturday on all aspects of evaluation and flight and ground tests that are to be undertaken.

The IAF's test pilots for the Indian Evaluation Team (IET) are Group Captain Dixit and Wing Commander Chauhan. The IET also comprises of three flight test engineers as well as representatives from the ministry of defence, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the Defence and Research Development Organisation, the Directorate-General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance and officers from air headquarters.