Indian Navy Interested In F/A 18 Super Hornets For INS Vikramaditya

[vish]

wut im thinkin is that n how an IAF SH culd land on a aircraft carrier, the aircraft that land on aircraft carriers r basically made to withstand that kind of sudden stops, which i really doubt a normal airforce fighter could do, which takes of from land, n lands back on land, n i really doubt F-18 fully loaded with weapons to take off from a Russian carrier with a ski-jump, withut the help of a steam catapult, n i doubt Russia will be happy to see US fighters takin off from its carrier!!! (US n Russia Arch Rivals)

I have never in my life seen an F-18 takin off from a ski-jump!!!

I think British navy is goin to have its short take off F-35's on a new carrier yet to be built takin off from a ski jump, but as the picture shows the carrier may be usin a steam catapult as well, can't say anythin.

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While your question is valid, I'm pretty much certain that the Navy brass is no stranger to this issue. As far as Russia being offended, once the ship is bought, it is India's discretion to use it as and how she sees it. Further, our arms and nuclear contracts with Russia are in the tune of tens of billions of dollars. Obviously, this cannot be overlooked.

By the way, Boeing carried out a simulation and not an actual test.

The UK-France carrier will initially feature a skijump. Later the carrier would be converted into a CATOBAR.

 

[Marshal]

wut im thinkin is that n how an IAF SH culd land on a aircraft carrier, the aircraft that land on aircraft carriers r basically made to withstand that kind of sudden stops, which i really doubt a normal airforce fighter could do, which takes of from land, n lands back on land, n i really doubt F-18 fully loaded with weapons to take off from a Russian carrier with a ski-jump, withut the help of a steam catapult, n i doubt Russia will be happy to see US fighters takin off from its carrier!!! (US n Russia Arch Rivals)

I have never in my life seen an F-18 takin off from a ski-jump!!!

I think British navy is goin to have its short take off F-35's on a new carrier yet to be built takin off from a ski jump, but as the picture shows the carrier may be usin a steam catapult as well, can't say anythin.

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Well mate......I think its not a question of someone has seen the F-18 takes off from STOBAR or not....no offence here please.......and as far as your question regarding wether a normal fightr can land or take off from carrier, it doesnt matter cuz indian navy is looking for the naval F-18 SH which US navy is already using on their carrier, not the normal fighter, though it takes off and lands on CATOBAR carrier but as the boing's campaign manager to India told that they have conducted a simulation test of F18 on STOBAR and it has been successful so far. and If IN wants to buy those F18 then IN will definately custmise F18 as per their requirement as useul IAF and IN always does when they purchase something. for eg Su 30 MKI from Su 30, MIG 29K which is completely deferent from the MIG29.

I also belive that the IN probably is looking for F18 not for the INS vikramaditya but for the third indigenous carrier which can be modified to CATOBAR as the relation with US is improving US may provide IN steam catapult as US is the sole country in the world who has this technology.

 

[Mohammed Azizuddin]

I have a feeling about the whole article, the Mig 29-k was a special variant developed for the Indian Navy, to be mounted on the INS Vikramaditiya,
I remember seeing a special programme about it on NDTV24X7 , Ti THINK THE F\A 18 super hornets will be given for an air-wing of the Indian navy order where the MRCA tender for aircrafts was extended from 126 fighters to 200 fighters, the difference of increase in 74 aircraft for the Indian Navy, I think the Indian Navy has decided about what it wants....its gonna be the super hornets for sure..... but it sure is gonna be a defining movement in Indian history....

 

[TexasJohn]

Well mate......I think its not a question of someone has seen the F-18 takes off from STOBAR or not....no offence here please.......and as far as your question regarding wether a normal fightr can land or take off from carrier, it doesnt matter cuz indian navy is looking for the naval F-18 SH which US navy is already using on their carrier, not the normal fighter, though it takes off and lands on CATOBAR carrier but as the boing's campaign manager to India told that they have conducted a simulation test of F18 on STOBAR and it has been successful so far. and If IN wants to buy those F18 then IN will definately custmise F18 as per their requirement as useul IAF and IN always does when they purchase something. for eg Su 30 MKI from Su 30, MIG 29K which is completely deferent from the MIG29.

I also belive that the IN probably is looking for F18 not for the INS vikramaditya but for the third indigenous carrier which can be modified to CATOBAR as the relation with US is improving US may provide IN steam catapult as US is the sole country in the world who has this technology.

Another consideration is that the USN for it's new generation of CVNs is doing away with the steam catapault. It will be an electromagnetic catapault.

Besides the need for contstant maintenance, it is far more powerful. The IN carrier is so tightly under wraps it's hard to tell if they would switch to that technology. It sure is easy enough to implement. Heck, even modern rollercoasters have that propulsion!!

 

[Marshal]

Another consideration is that the USN for it's new generation of CVNs is doing away with the steam catapault. It will be an electromagnetic catapault.

Besides the need for contstant maintenance, it is far more powerful. The IN carrier is so tightly under wraps it's hard to tell if they would switch to that technology. It sure is easy enough to implement. Heck, even modern rollercoasters have that propulsion!!

Well.........If US really want to do bussiness.... i mean If US realy want to sell its F/A 18 they will surely provide India the Steam or even electromagnetic catapult.... but the former has better chance..!!!

 

[vish]

The design for the IAC/ADS has been finalised. The ship is under construction, so any drastic changes are unlikely.

The next IAC/ADS may be a CATOBAR.

 

[MIG_ACE]

Well.........If US really want to do bussiness.... i mean If US realy want to sell its F/A 18 they will surely provide India the Steam or even electromagnetic catapult.... but the former has better chance..!!!

Buying a catapult and integrating it with a relatively small 37000 tonne carrier which is not configured for CATOBAR ops are two different ball-games. Atleast the first indigenous A/C will definitely be a STOBAR carrier with ski-jump. We can only speculate about the next ones if and when they are announced.

 

[Marshal]

Buying a catapult and integrating it with a relatively small 37000 tonne carrier which is not configured for CATOBAR ops are two different ball-games. Atleast the first indigenous A/C will definitely be a STOBAR carrier with ski-jump. We can only speculate about the next ones if and when they are announced.

I have no doubt in my mind that the first one is surely going to have STOBAR. and I also belive that the second one probabaly will going to be the STOBAR cuz the change in the configuration of the blueprint is not going to be easy but who knows this is just a speculation.
what makes u think that the a small 37000 tn carrier can not be configured for CATOBAR. French charles de gaul 38000 tn carrier has CATOBAR.

 

[nitesh]

Any idea how many aircrafts are expected to be stationed in the carrier?

 

[Keysersoze]

AN and Vish, Thanks for the info.

AN,
I am aware that the IN did not consider the Su-33 because it was too big(apart from being expensive). What I am now curious about is how the russians operate it from their carrier (if I'm not wrong I think they have only one left). If as you say large fighters like the F-18 and Su-33 have trouble lifting off from STOBAR carriers with full combat load, it makes no sense for the russians to operate Su-33s since none of their carriers have catapults AFAIK.

Dude if you search around youtube you will see footage of su-33 taking off from the carrier, but they are all stripped down to nothing.

Frankly I give this report as much credence as the reports of the IN getting the Kitty hawk. The aircraft carrier will be coming with the Mig 29's so what would be the point of getting another airwing of totally different aircraft? There is no way the Russians are gonna let the deal go against them and let the carrier go without the airwing. And if the Indians do decide that they wanted a alternative they would have to wait until the last moment and then wait a few more years without a airwing until they were delivered.

Frankly taking the shornet and putting it on a stobar carrier would be like buying a Ferrari and taking out he engine

 

[Neo]

Any idea how many aircrafts are expected to be stationed in the carrier?

I read in some Indian forum that 18 Mig-29K, 2 fix winged awacs in the league of E-2 and another 6 choopers are expected to be stationed.

 

[Keysersoze]

Incidently the airwing for the ship would be around 14-16 aircraft. plus helicopters.

 

[Neo]

Incidently the airwing for the ship would be around 14-16 aircraft. plus helicopters.

Keys, does it mean 2-4 Mig-29K's will be kept in storage since the initial order is for 18 kits?

 

[Keysersoze]

Keys, does it mean 2-4 Mig-29K's will be kept in storage since the initial order is for 18 kits?

Well bear in mind at least four would be two seater "B" models and would not necessarily on board.

 

[Keysersoze]

You know I have just realised that it is interesting that the In was slated to get the Tejas (40 aircraft) and Migs, so If they get the hornets as well some thing is gonna give right? Could they be hedging their bets against the failure of the Tejas?