“We buy F-15EX to keep industrial diversity,” Pentagon Official Says

Boeing thinks to Push F-15EX to India

By Dario Leone
Feb 15 2020
Share this article

Boeing has requested US government clearance to offer the F-15EX for an Indian Air Force requirement for 110 fighters.  

Boeing is thinking to push the F-15EX to New Delhi for one of India’s long-running fighter procurements – a contest in which the company F/A-18E/F is already competing.

Boeing has requested US government clearance to offer the latest variant of the mighty F-15 for an Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement for 110 fighters.

“While awaiting further definition on the Indian air force’s requirements, we have requested a license for the F-15 so that we’re ready to share the full spectrum of potential solutions across our fighter portfolio when appropriate,” says the company.

Boeing thinks to Push F-15EX to India
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-15E Strike Eagle 366th Fighter Wing, 391st Fighter Squadron, MO/90-0249 – Mountain Home AFB, ID – 2008

“We continue to offer the F/A-18 Super Hornet to both the Indian navy and Indian air force, and our F-15 is experiencing a resurgence in interest in the US and around the world.”

Boeing was responding to a query from FlightGlobal after a Feb. 9 meeting with Kelli Seybolt, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for international affairs, who revealed that Boeing had sought an export licence for India for the F-15EX.

The potential entry of the F-15 into the contest is the latest twist in yet another convoluted Indian procurement exercise.

After the collapse of its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) fighter acquisition in 2015, New Delhi rebooted the requirement, initially as an acquisition of a single-engined type, which was later extended to include twin-engined aircraft.

Contenders for the new requirement include the single-engined Lockheed Martin F-16V – called the F-21 for the Indian contest – and Saab Gripen E/F, alongside the twin-engined Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Super Hornet. Russia is also likely to offer the RAC MiG-35 and Sukhoi Su-35. In addition, there is a separate 57-aircraft requirement for the Indian navy, which Boeing is also addressing with the F/A-18E/F.

As already reported, the US Air Force (USAF) announced earlier this month that it will sole-source two contracts, one for the F-15EX and the other for its F110 engines. The F-15EX will be the service first fourth-generation fighter program in more than 20 years.

F-15 Model
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Photo credit: Boeing


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Aizad says:

    India won’t be very interested in the purchase of the F-15 due to it’s large RCS, high maintenance cost and dated airframe design. The Rafale or F16 Block 70 would be far more suitable for Indian requirements.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices