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.

 

[Wonderbar]

Gripen was thrown out of MMRCA last time. Not to mention, it was sold to Brazil at prices higher than Rafale. 😂😂 F15 is way too costly. Indonesian offer proves it. In fact, even F18 is way too costly as our naval tender proves.

but cheaper than your favorite 4th gen French junk’s price $350 Mln.

 

[WarTech]

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 .

While indeed F-15 is an older design, it was built nearly perfect from the start, as they thought that the Russians had surpassed them in jet tech, and MiG-25 could do jet magic. F-15 was upgraded many times, as many middle-east countries kept on ordering them. F-15EX is a relatively new design of the old F-15s, with many upgrades including radar and the capability to carry massive amounts of ordinance. As US is locked in a mild cold war with china, they are also building many advanced missiles, such AIM-260 JATM (200km+) which is similar to Meteor (200km), which is the longest range missile in IAF. They are also building LREW (400km+), which is needed to counter Chinese PL-21 (400km), and Rafale doesn't have any missile which can go 400km. So yeah, we need F-15EX, whether we like it or not.

 

[WarTech]

Ofcourse they have to be open for integration of Indian weapons, provide modification and upgrade rights. But it's an old platform we don't need. US must keep it for itself.

While indeed F-15 is an older design, it was built nearly perfect from the start, as they thought that the Russians had surpassed them in jet tech, and MiG-25 could do jet magic. F-15 was upgraded many times, as many middle-east countries kept on ordering them. F-15EX is a relatively new design of the old F-15s, with many upgrades including radar and the capability to carry massive amounts of ordinance. As US is locked in a mild cold war with china, they are also building many advanced missiles, such AIM-260 JATM (200km+) which is similar to Meteor (200km), which is the longest range missile in IAF. They are also building LREW (400km+), which is needed to counter Chinese PL-21 (400km), and Rafale doesn't have any missile which can go 400km. So yeah, we need F-15EX, whether we like it or not.

 

[WarTech]

I think we must buy F-35.

Bruh, not possible
We aren't that close to US

 

[WarTech]

Rcs of eagle 2 is very high , where as j20 has 0.01.
India should choose Amca 2

I don't know what you're smoking, but J-20 is nowhere near that stealthy. It has very 'moderate' steath (better than non-stealth jets, nowhere close to stealth jets). That is the reason they are building so many jets. DPSUs would have to work for years to reach the stealth level of true stealth jets (F-22, F-35) for AMCA.

 

[Akshat]

but cheaper than your favorite 4th gen French junk’s price $350 Mln.

It has been declared L1 twice and has won the tender twice. So not my favorite. My military’s favorite

 

[Varaaah]

So why could they not offer this earlier? Now it is too late. Now we will do with our own planes. Which are getting better and better.

 

[Neal.B]

F-15EX with American and Indian weapons systems will send shivers down the spines of terroristan/beggeristan and criminal chinese ccp and its pla.
Absolutely no doubt about it as F-15EX is known as Flying Bomb Truck with massive firepower.

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.

 

[Neal.B]

I think we must buy F-35.

US won't sell F35 to a country having S400 in armory. F35 is super costly to operate. They will give a long list of conditions along with F35, and it's also possible that they will stop selling spare parts to India in times of dire need.

 

[Neal.B]

Rcs of eagle 2 is very high , where as j20 has 0.01.
India should choose Amca 2

AMCA 2! AMCA 1 is not coming anytime soon.

 

[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.