NEW DELHI: Seeking to develop closer ties with India, the United States of America (USA) F-18 naval fighter jets for indian navyfighter aircraft requirements for their aircraft carriers.
The Indian Navy had expressed interest a few years ago in acquiring 57 naval combat aircraft for its carrier operations, including the current INS Vikramaditya and the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier under construction.
“The US government has offered to deliver its F-18 fighter jets to the Indian Navy under a government proposal at the meeting between the defense delegations of both countries during the 2 + 2 meetings,” government sources said here. to ANI.
The United States government has offered to sell its F-18 fighters along with the Sea Guardian drone to the Indian Navy along with a number of other systems for the Indian armed forces in recent times.
At the moment, the Indian Navy has been evaluating the F-18 and Rafale naval fighters for their current and future requirements, as their current fighter is likely to be phased out by the end of this decade or early next.
The aircraft offered by the US government is said to be the advanced version of the aircraft that was offered to the Indian Air Force at its request for 126 Multirole Medium Combat Aircraft in which only the Rafale and the European Eurofighter had been able to meet the qualitative requirements and the French aircraft had finally been selected.
Even the Multi-Function Medium Combat Aircraft Deal (MMRCA) had to be scrapped, the Indian government showed faith in the French fighter and bought 36 of its jets under a Rs 60 billion deal.
The American fighter offered to the Indian Navy can be operated from aircraft carriers.
Both the Rafale and the F-18 have been showing the simulated ability of their respective fighter jets to take off and land on the Indian Navy’s INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.
In the recent past, the Indian Navy has moved towards the American team in a big way, as its fleet of long-range surveillance aircraft consists of 12 P-8I jets and would have six more of these in the near future.
King of the sea The multipurpose helicopters would also be replaced by 24 Romeos MH-60s to be purchased under a government-to-government agreement.
American equipment including the C-17 heavy transport aircraft and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, M-777 ultralight howitzers, Apache attack helicopters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters along with SiG assault rifles Sauer have become the mainstays of the Air Force. and the Army in the last decade.
The Americans have also shared a lot of information about the deployment and activities of the Chinese army in the military confrontation.
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