IAF pilots to evaluate Boeing's F-18 warplanes

FARNBOROUGH (UK): Indian Air Force pilots are expected to test fly Boeing's F-18 fighter aircraft to evaluate the American war machine as the company is one of the main bidders in the race to sell 126 frontline jet planes to India.

Two test pilots from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Air Marshals AK Nagalia and Bhushan Gokhale, are at the Farnborough Air Show to evaluate the planes, an HAL official said on Monday.

India plans to buy 126 fighter planes to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 warplanes and top aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Lockheed, which produces the F-16 warplanes, are in the fray to bag the major deal.

A Boeing spokesman said several meetings with Indian Air Force representatives have taken place and it is awaiting a response from the Indian side with regard to the F-18, a twin-engine multi-role combat jet, which, the company claims, is one of most advanced warplanes in the world.

He said Boeing is also exploring the possibility of manufacturing aircraft components and assembling the jets in India.