Co-production included in potential deal as Boeing rules out F-15 for 126-aircraft air force requirement
Boeing intends to offer the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block 2 for an emerging 126-aircraft fighter requirement for the Indian air force, with co-production expected to be included in the deal. The US government has also supplied India with information on the Lockheed Martin F-16.
Boeing has eliminated the F-15, for which it is seeking a new order before January to avoid a production gap, as a candidate for India. Lockheed needs an F-16 order before year-end to avoid a gap in production, but is hopeful of an order from Pakistan this year for up to 75 aircraft.
The potential Super Hornet offer includes the Raytheon APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, says Chris Chadwick, F/A-18 programmes manager. The final proposal awaits clearance by the US Department of Defense. An export configuration for the AESA antenna and processor technology has yet to be approved, he says.
The Block 2 configuration also includes the Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, advanced crew station and datalink. Most recently, Boeing has integrated a datalink with the Raytheon ATFLIR targeting pod, allowing the crew to share and target images with troops on the ground to avoid friendly-fire incidents.
Boeing has special interest in the co-production opportunity it assumes will be required by India. A co-production site offers a “good investment for Boeing”, says Chadwick, adding that Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is being considered as a partner. June Shrewsbury, vice-president, F-16 programmes, says it is too early to determine what, if any, offset demands Pakistan and India will make.
The roughly two-year delay in Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development could boost sales prospects for the F-16 and F/A-18, meanwhile, as some customers may need to fill an inventory gap. Chadwick says no countries have approached the company so far, but sales to existing operators topping up their fleets until the JSF arrives are among the 100-200 further F-16 orders foreseen by Lockheed, says Shrewsbury.
Without further orders, production of the F-15 and F-16 will end in 2008. At the US Air Force’s request, Boeing has provided pricing information on up to 136 more F-15E strike fighters. “The opportunity for additional F-15Es depends on what happens with the [Lockheed Martin] F/A-22,” says George Muellner, air force systems president. As for the possibility of more USAF F-16 orders, “we have given them information on price”, says Shrewsbury. “But we do not believe there is serious interest.”
Source: Flight International
