Boeing Offers Integration of Indian-Made Weapons on F-18 and F-15EX to Secure India's MRFA Deal

In a strategic maneuver to secure India's lucrative Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, Boeing has made a groundbreaking offer to integrate Indian-made weapons onto their F-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15EX fighter jets. This unprecedented move is seen as a significant bid to win the contract to supply 114 fighter jets to the Indian Air Force (IAF), a deal valued at over $18 billion.

The offer to integrate indigenous weaponry like the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), and Next-Generation Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-MR) aligns seamlessly with India's "Make in India" initiative and its growing focus on self-reliance in defence production.


While Boeing's competitors like Lockheed Martin, Dassault, and Eurofighter are also vying for the MRFA contract, this unique proposition could give Boeing a distinct advantage. Integrating Indian-made weapons would not only boost India's domestic defense industry but also enhance the operational capabilities of the IAF.

The specifics of how Boeing plans to integrate these weapons onto their platforms are still under wraps. However, it's expected that the company will modify the avionics, sensors, and communication systems of their F-18 and F-15EX jets to seamlessly accommodate Indian-made armaments.

This strategic move by Boeing could potentially be a game-changer in the MRFA competition. It reflects Boeing's willingness to adapt to India's specific needs and could pave the way for a long-term partnership between Boeing and the Indian defense industry. As the competition heats up, the coming months will reveal whether this bold move will be the deciding factor in Boeing securing the MRFA deal.

 

[WarTech]

That's right. 4.5 and 5th gen aircrafts with internal weapons bay first have to destroy radar systems and control rooms. Then 4th gen F15EX can cause massive damage in all places as they are called 'missile truck' having capacity to carry around 22 missiles and bombs.

F-15EX is technically 4.5 gen.

 

[Mridul baruah]

All American weapons comes with baggages of Do's and don'ts. SO a big no.

 

[Sridhar]

If BOEING agrees for the local manufacturing of F15 EX and also agrees for Indian weapons integration, then IAF can consider the proposal.
On the hindsight IAF has 36 RAFALEs. IN has plans to place orders for 20 Plus. So IAF can be better off by ordering 100 odd jets if DASSAULT set up their manufacturing assembly in India .

 

[SuryaK]

For the money involved just do Super Sukhoi upgrade with new engines etc and buy new MKI with these upgrades. No need for one more new bird in AF khitchdi.

 

[👀👀]

I have been thinking the same all these while. My main concern is Tejas Mk2 I am not sure the timeline given by HAL will stay or more adjustments to come in the later stages. The AMCA and TEDBF roll out date to happen I am not sure when. Depending on the rate production of Tejas Mk1A to fulfil the 42 squadrons is years away. The CCS members in the new government must realise and foresee the critical inadequacy of a formidable firepower will stretch the IAF firepower thin and futile to withstand either one or two pronged attack. I strongly believe 114 MRFA procurement is an essential requirement not by choice. The CCS in the new government must act fast bcoz adversaries don't give invitation for war.

They might even go with Gripen to have a modern 4.5+++ jet and with GE engine to make US happy and at the same time keeping the cost under the budget.

 

[Vedaant Raturi]

Still fail to understand as I am not & expert but still fill why go for such a big deal depending on overseas manufacturers where they can stop all weapons spares sell during emergency instead should go for more Tejas MK2 & add 2/3 squadrons of Rafale Mk 4 & invest more on anti aircrafts systems more missiles rockets drones etc

Basically all of that requires time which we do not currently have.Could we order more tejas mk2? Yes we could but it will still take time for HAL to manufacture them , so until that time to maintain a squadron strength of 42 we need mrfa planes and the plane most likely to win in my opinion is going to be rafale as we have good relations with France and this deal could pave the way for future deals such as the joint aircraft carrier

 

[KickDalla]

Be it Renaming F-21, or F-18&F-15Ex all these 3 are old design Fighter Jets India wants Latest Design jets , US is trying hard to win MRFA by pitching 3 Fighter jet. They also put pressure behind the wall to select their Fighter jet. India also have Nirbhay, Rudram series , Brahmos-NG Which US forgot .Third party weapon system should also allowed. will US allow Nuke delivery on their Fighter jets............??? First they should meet the Tech parameters set by IAFin MRFA .

F21 is not renamed, it is lot different from regular F16 including Engine.

 

[KickDalla]

Personally, it seems so funny.
All participants are falling head over heels to woo IAF for MRFA with new offers everyday, but not a murmur from our hibernating IAF or MOD on the subject, sitting on the files to see who will incubate the chicks first..

be cause all they want is a jet with watch and retirement bonus, but MOD and GOI are not allowing that, also geopolitics is involved in this deal and they will try to pay the cost in Rupees and not in Dollar or EU, so the only Countries that accept to this would win.

 

[KickDalla]

F-15EX has the most powerful radar in the whole competition. It is the only radar, barring possibly that of the Eurofighter, that can pick up the J-20.

Eurofighter is a great jet with all the latest tech, especially much faster than Rafale and more stealthier.

 

[KickDalla]

Eurofighter 😂😂😂

Feeling jealous.

 

[Akshat]

Feeling jealous.

Even a British expert paid by Euro consortium said EF can’t compete with France for another decade (in 2019). So nothing to feel jealous. Our IAF and IN made the right choice.

 

[KickDalla]

F-15EX is technically 4.5 gen.

and so as all the jets in the competition, the only advantage is we might have a door open for F35 purchase, I think we shouldn't go for Rafale-M before we buy 114 MRFA jets, in case if we buy US jets we can get F35B and F35C for the Navy so that it doesn't affect TEDBF and they will be much more capable than Rafale.

 

[Pink Panther]

They might even go with Gripen to have a modern 4.5+++ jet and with GE engine to make US happy and at the same time keeping the cost under the budget.

I have the same instinct too, they are the only ones who could be bent to get whatever we wanted with regards to dource code, integration of Indian weapons, plus it uses both US and european weapons. there was an article that said hw Chinese got shocked seeing how it scored against J20's during a war game with Thailand, but US will have a saying.