Boeing offers IAF advanced AESA radar with F-18

Bangalore, Feb 8 After offering to co-produce the F-18 Super Hornet in this country if it wins an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 combat jets, US aerospace major Boeing Thursday upped the ante by committing itself to equipping the aircraft with the latest generation radar that greatly enhances its capabilities.

And, in keeping with current 'Network-centric warfare' doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces, Boeing says the F-18 is more than equipped to put this concept into practice by coordinating operations in the air and on the ground.

'Yes, the aircraft will come with the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array). The radar is in operation and represents the latest generation of radar technology,' Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Wieringa said at the media briefing during the ongoing Aero India air show.

Wieringa wears the twin hats of deputy assistant secretary of the US Navy and director of the navy's international programmes office.

The AESA radar, according to the official, engages targets at very long ranges, continues to search while tracking many targets and can produce high-resolution maps from long stand-off ranges.

'The AESA radar, along with the F-18's advanced sensor technology, gives it true capability to operate in a network-centric warfare environment,' Wieringa added.

There is, however, just one catch: while the aerospace major is more than ready to co-produce the aircraft, it is not willing for technology transfer of the radar 'due to its sensitive nature', said Chris Chadwick, Vice President and General Manager for Global Strike Systems of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems that manufactures the aircraft.

'We are looking to building a lasting relationship with India and to work closely with the Indian industry in capacity building. Thus, I don't foresee AESA becoming an issue (due to the absence of technology transfer),' Chadwick added.

Toward this end, Boeing has a large presence at Aero India where, apart from the F-18, it is also showcasing the C-17 heavy-lift transport, the C130J Super Hercules medium lift transport, and the Chinook CH-47 medium lift helicopter. This apart, there is a large-scale model of the P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft that has been offered to the Indian Navy.

The F-18 currently flies with the US Navy and with the air forces and navies of seven other nations, including Australia and Spain.

Should the IAF deal comes through, India will be the first country outside the US where the F-18 will be manufactured. It will also be the first time Indian companies will be able to participate in the production of a US fighter. India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd currently manufactures the Sukhoi Su-30 and MiG-series of Russian jets, as also the British Jaguar.

The F-18 was developed from the experience gained by four separate platforms - the F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighter, the A-6 medium attack bomber, the EA-6B airborne jammer, and the S-3B airborne tanker.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

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