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The Indian Navy is deciding which of the potential suppliers of fighters for naval aviation to give preference to – the United States or France. We are talking about the supply of more than two dozen aircraft, senior representatives of the Indian Navy said, according to the Indian press.
Currently, according to The Print edition, the Indian Navy is preparing a report on the operational demonstration of the capabilities of two Rafale M fighter aircraft of the French company Dassault Aviation and the F/A 18 Super Hornet of the American company Boeing. The document should be prepared within two months, but for now they are going to request additional information from the companies.
After the report is prepared, the Indian Navy will submit a procurement proposal to the Indian Ministry of Defense. This will happen at the end of 2022, sources in the naval command believe. According to Vice Admiral S.N.Gormade, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Naval Forces, the tests are being conducted in order to obtain aircraft that could be lifted from aircraft carriers.
Gormade also spoke about the intergovernmental contract and stressed that the Navy sees what benefits the Indian military industry can derive from the contract. As for the exact number of aircraft, it has not yet been determined. Initially, the Indian Navy focused on the acquisition of 57 aircraft. But currently, the likely number of fighter jets that are going to be bought in New Delhi is 26.
The Indian Navy Command also announced that there is interest in a twin-engine carrier-based fighter (TEDBF), which the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is working on.
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A promising TEDBF fighter for the Indian Navy. Photo: Wikipedia / Josh097
Currently, the naval aviation of the Indian Navy operates Russian-made MiG-29K aircraft. But since the second aircraft carrier of the country's Navy is scheduled to be commissioned in India by August 15, 2022, the need for aircraft from the country's naval aviation is expanding. At the same time, the Indian Defense Ministry has no plans to purchase Russian carrier-based fighters.
At the same time, the Navy command does not want to acquire too many expensive foreign aircraft. Now the task of Indian naval aviation is to maintain its combat capability in anticipation of deliveries of TEDBF – aircraft of domestic production. In addition, many MiG-29K aircraft will be decommissioned over the next decade, so Indian naval aviation needs aircraft that could replace them.
As for which aircraft will be preferred in the Indian Navy, for now the Naval Aviation Command remains silent on this issue. The military notes that both the Rafale and Super Hornet are worthy. The final report is likely to provide more detailed information about both aircraft in terms of the needs and requirements of Indian naval aviation.
