Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Enters the Fray for India's MRFA Contract Alongside F-15EX

Boeing has solidified its commitment to securing India's Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contract by confirming its continued offer of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, alongside the previously announced F-15EX Eagle II. This strategic move not only strengthens Boeing's position in the competition but also provides the Indian Air Force (IAF) with a wider range of options to choose from.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a proven and versatile carrier-based fighter, brings a wealth of combat experience to the table. Its twin-engine design and multirole capabilities make it a formidable asset for various missions, including air-to-air combat, ground strikes, and maritime operations.

By keeping the Super Hornet in contention, Boeing is catering to the IAF's diverse operational requirements. The aircraft's carrier compatibility aligns with India's growing naval ambitions, while its multirole capabilities complement the IAF's existing fleet.

This decision also intensifies the rivalry within the American defense industry, with Lockheed Martin also vying for the contract with its F-21 fighter. Boeing's dual offering further complicates the selection process for the IAF, as it now has to evaluate two distinct American fighter jets, each with its unique strengths and advantages.

The MRFA contract, valued at over $18 billion, is a significant opportunity for Boeing to expand its presence in the Indian defense market. By offering both the Super Hornet and the F-15EX, Boeing is demonstrating its commitment to meeting India's specific defense needs and fostering long-term partnerships.

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

We should totally cancel the MRFA as it will be a total waste of time and money. If at all the IAF insists on MRFA, then only Rafael to be considered.

 

[Pink Panther]

We should totally cancel the MRFA as it will be a total waste of time and money. If at all the IAF insists on MRFA, then only Rafael to be considered.

Yes if IAF insists we can get them 2 squadrons of 4th gen Rafale and ask them to wait for 20 years to get them when some Countries fly 7th gen aircraft.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Spending $40Bln for IAF alone is also equally ridiculous, Navy and Army also require a lot of critical items, IAF needs 114 jets and immediately within 3-5 years which is practically impossible considering the Extremely high cost and backlogs.

40 Billion? In 2019, it was estimated to be $18 billion. And even when it's 40 billion, it's not that they have be paid in one go. Long term loans, reinvestment agreements etc. will be used to do that. And if they don't persue that, then another 36 or 54 Rafaels direct buy as happened last time.

In no way IAF is buying another jet. As i said, it'll be even more ridiculous after buying 36 Rafaels. It's logistical nightmare having another kind of jet.

 

[Pink Panther]

What's the point of offering the super hornet for the IAF, when the Indian navy in itself did not opt for the carrier based operations?

It is not a fighter designed or optimized for ground based operations. So why would the IAF opt for it?

Just about the only advantage might be that the the production line that is being shut off in the US after the US Navy contract finishes up can be directly transferred to India within a relatively short space of time.

Even then, Boeing is not going to invest money on engineering changes to optimize it to ground based operations when this will likely be the last ever order for the F/A18. Seems like a whole lot of wishful thinking on Boeing's part

Of course the whole MRFA tamasha is a wishful thinking on the part of IAF but that is a different discussion for a different day....

F/A-18 Super hornet is for the Navy, Navy hasn’t ordered Rafale-M yet, nothing has been signed or announced by GOI officially, News of Navy buying Rafale-M is just a rumor F15-EX is offered for IAF.

 

[Anant]

We can’t even buy 114 rafale at 18 billion only su35 makes sense.

Why get a repackaged Su-27? If we really wanted the Su-35, we could just go for the upgraded Su-30MKI instead with the AL-41 engine. Would save us a lot of money we would have to spend modifyng the Su-35 otherwise.

Oh, and maintaining a decent force balance would require medium multi-role fighters to complement light fighters (Tejas Mk 1/1A), and heavy fighters (Su-30MKI). Going for more heavy fighters would disturb that force balance. That is also why I am fairly certain the F-15EX, F-16, and Gripen have very little chance.

 

[Anant]

Read the story -
Says over $18 billions for 114 MRFA = $168 millions per fighter
I did not invent it.

Boss, that 18 billion dollar figure is very old, and comes from an old projection of the MMRCA negotiations. A figure that would be closer to reality today for 114 aircraft would be 25-28 billion USD.

Oh, and we will get almost none of the contenders at that 168 million USD price point anyways.

P.S. Didn't mean to doubt you. I was only curious.

 

[Anant]

Point is IAF wants 114 jets and not 50, also they wanted in 3-5 years, Rafale would cost $325-$335/jet, if made in India, also Dassault wanted to buy 100%Stake in DRAL and wanted to do it all alone which contradicts the main condition of MRFA, that clearly says that the foreign OEM should work with local Indian partner to manufacture MRFA jet and transfer the knowledge.

And your source for the 325-335 million USD figure for the Rafale? A closer figure might be 220-250 million, which would make for a final price tag of roughly billion USD.

Please do remember that the original Rafale order included a fairly large number of spares and weapons. Going for a large order such as MRFA would allow us to cut down on the net spares per aircraft, and it would also give us enough leverage to push France into allowing integration of indigenous weapons, which would save us money.

 

[Anant]

Yes with $18Bln we can only buy 50 Rafales, but IAF wants 114 jets and that to immediately, Sultanate of Oman ordered 25 Rafale’s a couple of days ago that took the backlog close to 470 which will take at-least 20 years to clear, instead of Rafale we could get 36 F15’s immediately, and may be buy some cheap readily available fighters elsewhere for the rest.

1. You still haven't shown any source for that 360 million USD figure. The only way I can see getting close to that would be to take the original figure and scale it up to inflation, which would make little sense because the original order included a disproportionately large number (on a per aircraft basis) of spares. Going for a large order would mean we would procure fewer spares (proportionately), and would give us enough leverage over the French to allow us to integrate indigenous weapons rather than buy expensive ones from them.

2. Oman has only expressed an interest in buying Rafales. They haven't ordered them yet.

3. Even if we were to buy F-15s today, there is a order book of some 70-ish F-15EXs already and a potential order book of up to 215-ish aircraft.

 

[Anant]

335 millions usd per Rafale F4.2 jet on make in India by Dassault-DRAL BUT, it's coming with 100% re-export licenses then... And DRAL-HAL can do modifications also to fit ANY DRDO weapons or Israeli ones also!

Do you actually have a source that backs up that 335 million USD figure other than just scaling up the old price by inflation?

 

[5powa]

We need 5th gen not these dinosaurs 🦕 Amca, f35, boromae, su-57 etc though I’m partial to the F15ex with some as escort jammers like f18 growler variant.

 

[Pink Panther]

1. You still haven't shown any source for that 360 million USD figure. The only way I can see getting close to that would be to take the original figure and scale it up to inflation, which would make little sense because the original order included a disproportionately large number (on a per aircraft basis) of spares. Going for a large order would mean we would procure fewer spares (proportionately), and would give us enough leverage over the French to allow us to integrate indigenous weapons rather than buy expensive ones from them.

2. Oman has only expressed an interest in buying Rafales. They haven't ordered them yet.

3. Even if we were to buy F-15s today, there is a order book of some 70-ish F-15EXs already and a potential order book of up to 215-ish aircraft.

Inflation+RafaleF4.2cost+India specific changes cost+cost for indian missiles integration, UAE paid close to $290Mln/F4.1.

 

[Pink Panther]

40 Billion? In 2019, it was estimated to be $18 billion. And even when it's 40 billion, it's not that they have be paid in one go. Long term loans, reinvestment agreements etc. will be used to do that. And if they don't persue that, then another 36 or 54 Rafaels direct buy as happened last time.

In no way IAF is buying another jet. As i said, it'll be even more ridiculous after buying 36 Rafaels. It's logistical nightmare having another kind of jet.

In general COVID and multiple wars in the world have increased the price of everything, something called INFLATION, Buying 36 or even 50 is possible with $18Bln, problem is Dassault won’t make them in India if the order is less than 100, they right now have a backlog of 475 which will take more than 15 years to clear even if we order tomorrow, , IAF wants the jets in 3-5 years.

 

[Sandeep]

If MRFA get scrapped then IAF launches Stealth-MMRFA for stealth jets purchases since HAL will deliver MK1-AMCA only by 2060 year...

No it won’t be that long. The AMCA prototype will be done in a few years and have its first flight. Then it will begin its testing phase and hit production just around 2032 so it won’t take that long.

 

[Anonymus]

Why get a repackaged Su-27? If we really wanted the Su-35, we could just go for the upgraded Su-30MKI instead with the AL-41 engine. Would save us a lot of money we would have to spend modifyng the Su-35 otherwise.

Oh, and maintaining a decent force balance would require medium multi-role fighters to complement light fighters (Tejas Mk 1/1A), and heavy fighters (Su-30MKI). Going for more heavy fighters would disturb that force balance. That is also why I am fairly certain the F-15EX, F-16, and Gripen have very little chance.

Su 35 rcs is much lower compare to su30mki which can't be changed + there is no medium category fighter india can induct except rafale which is unaffordable + india needs to address it urgent needs of fighter due to depleting squads and phasing out many jets by 2030 + su35 is only jets which has rafale equivalent capabilities.
And if we use same sub systems which we are using in super Sukhoi upgrade + al41 engine in su35 also then maintance cost will be reduced drastically as both these jets having same plateform and same sub systems will help in maintaince these jets at lower cost.

 

[Boomeranger]

Yes if IAF insists we can get them 2 squadrons of 4th gen Rafale and ask them to wait for 20 years to get them when some Countries fly 7th gen aircraft.

so many dembo's here do not understand that HAL MAX. manufacturing capacity is just 4 nos. Tejas jets per year! MRFA is a MUST now and F15EX is THE BEST and ONLY viable option now... Rafale F4.2 will now costs 335 millions usd per jet full lifetime ops costs with Dassault-DRAL manufacturings in India!

 

[Anonymus]

IAF is not gonna buy another kind of jet that too Russian. Because now if they don't choose Rafael, it'll be even more ridiculous. It's logistical nightmare having another kind of jet.

And iaf budget is not written in stone. Lot more ways to finance that, and no one on this page have knowledge about price. Just speculations.

Hello Bro cost, budget these are some concept which you have to learn about.
And in su35 and su 30mki if we use same sub systems then maintance cost is much less rather than operating 5 different kind of jets it's better to operate one jets in big no. Both production and maintenance cost gets reduced and easy availablity of spare parts.
You can take eg. The cars which are sold most has higher availablity of spare parts thus easy to maintain.
And we should not forget that india has years of experience in operating and maintaining of these types of jets + years of experience of integration of Indian and Israeli weapon system in su 30mki + we already have in mass no. of such weapons in operations unlike rafale which we have none these things .

 

[Boomeranger]

Do you actually have a source that backs up that 335 million USD figure other than just scaling up the old price by inflation?

old prices are all DEAD and GONE now post 2020 covid economy!! All new pricings now just see Qatar latest Rafales deal...

 

[Boomeranger]

Su75 hasn't been in produced even prototype + What's the point of buy gripen if we already make Tejas mk2 with same specs and f21 is not viable as Pakistan already operate f16 + IAF need twin engine jets in mrfa + buying new jets only increase logistics cost for iaf

If we scrap ORCA, TEDBF and MWF programs den HAL-Sukhoi can do a superfast SU75 new ver. developments using NAL-HAL-DRDO's expertise in RAM and CCM airframe parts productions with latex skin and stealth RCS reduction paints. SU75 can replace Tejas MK1A from 2055 year onwards easily..SU57 can be bought also for 5th gen. attack roles..

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

In general COVID and multiple wars in the world have increased the price of everything, something called INFLATION, Buying 36 or even 50 is possible with $18Bln, problem is Dassault won’t make them in India if the order is less than 100, they right now have a backlog of 475 which will take more than 15 years to clear even if we order tomorrow, , IAF wants the jets in 3-5 years.

You're assuming too much. Iaf won't lose a war if it doesn't get mrfa in 3-5 years. No one is demanding that. Everything else I've said already.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Hello Bro cost, budget these are some concept which you have to learn about.
And in su35 and su 30mki if we use same sub systems then maintance cost is much less rather than operating 5 different kind of jets it's better to operate one jets in big no. Both production and maintenance cost gets reduced and easy availablity of spare parts.
You can take eg. The cars which are sold most has higher availablity of spare parts thus easy to maintain.
And we should not forget that india has years of experience in operating and maintaining of these types of jets + years of experience of integration of Indian and Israeli weapon system in su 30mki + we already have in mass no. of such weapons in operations unlike rafale which we have none these things .

Bro cost and budget are some of the concepts which I learnt in my graduation and I know how big orders are financed. Su35 will have same issues of reliability, lack of operational readiness, inefficient engines and costly maintenance. As I said, russian maal is not coming, IAF is very clear on that. They won't buy another jet after buying 36 Rafaels.