What has happened?
United State of America has offered its F-18 Naval fighter jet for the Indian Navy's requirements of combat jet for its aircraft carrier during the 2+2 meeting
Why US Government Offered?
Indian Navy had a few year ago express interest in the acquisition of 57 naval fighters. for operations from its aircraft carrier including the present INS Vikramaditya and under construction indigenous aircraft carrier.
What Else US has Offered?
Sea Guardian
The US government has offered to sell their F-18 fighter along with the unmanned aircraft Sea Guardian for Indian Navy along with a number of their systems to the Indian armed forces in recent times.
Choice with Indian Navy?
At the moment the Indian Navy has been assessing the F-18 and the Rafale naval fighters for its present and futuristic requirements as a present fighter is likely to be phased out by the end of the decade for the beginning to next.
Rafale
Remember it's a different Ball game when it is come to naval aircraft. Both Rafale and F-18 have been showcasing the simulated capability of their respective fighter aircraft to take off and land at the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy.
European Eurofighter .
the aircraft offered by the American government is said to be the advanced version of the plane which was on offer to the Indian Air force. For requirement of 120 e multi medium combat aircraft. In which only Rafale and European Eurofighter had been available to meet the the qualitative requirements in finally the French plane had been selected for Indian Air force.
Indian Navy Tilt towards USA equipment ?
In the recent past, Indian Navy has moved towards American equipment in a big way as its long range surveillance aircraft fleet consists 12 P-8i aircraft and would six more of these in near future.
The Sea King multi-role helicopter would also be replaced by 24 M-60 Romeo's which are being acquired under of government to government deal.
American equipment including the C-17
Heavy lift and C-130 J super Hercules transport aircraft, M-777 ultralight Howitzers, Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift choppers along with SiG Sauer assault rifles have become main stays in The Airforce and army in the last one decade.
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