ST LOUIS - As the race to supply the Indian Air Force with 126 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) hots up, Boeing, a leading contender, is showcasing the Super Hornet, promising a new generation of air power.

Eyeing the over $10 billion contract with India and other high value deals, Boeing last week ceremonially rolled out the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), its first international Super Hornet customer.

“The Super Hornet is on its way to delivering advanced combat capabilities to the Royal Australian Air Force,” said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 programmes, at a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defence Systems’ production facilities here, watched by international media.

The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF in 2010 and 2011.

“The RAAF Super Hornet will bring a new generation of air power to Australia,” said Air Marshal Mark Binskin, chief of RAAF. “Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver enhanced air combat capability across the spectrum of air-to-air, strategic land attack and maritime strike.”

The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the only 21st century, true multi-role aircraft that is available now and meets the tactical mission requirements of today’s complex battle-space, Boeing officials said.

It can perform virtually every mission including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defences, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

Built by the industry team of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon and 1,900 other suppliers across the US, the Super Hornet provides the war-fighter with today’s newest advances in multi-mission capability and growth for decades to come in missions, roles and technology, officials said.

With a total of 11 weapons stations, the Super Hornet provides war-fighters with extraordinary payload flexibility by carrying a mixed load of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.

Two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines power the Super Hornet, producing a combined thrust of 44,000 pounds. The F414’s light yet robust design yields a 9:1 thrust-to-weight ratio, one of the highest of any modern fighter engine, the officials said.

The Super Hornet entered combat on its maiden voyage in 2002. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the US Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule, according to the officials.

Contending for what has been touted as India’s single largest defence deal ever are five other competing MRCA aircraft-Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Falcon, Euro-fighter Typhoon, Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Russian MiG-35 and the French Dassault Rafale.

Boeing officials would not say anything about the rivals, but Ted Herman, Manager F18 Integrated Business Development Programme, proudly pointed to his unit’s enviable record of timely delivery and well-within-budget production with high reliability and high mission capable rates.

Using civil aircraft techniques and features designed in the Advance Strike Technology programme of the 90s, the St. Louis facility rolls out four new planes every month.

But after a contract is signed, it takes about 38 months before the first plane is delivered, with the aircraft taking shape over a period of 18 months in the sprawling “Home of the Super Hornet” here.

It takes nine months to just forge the fuselage, 50 days to assemble the wings, and another 55 days for forward fuselage assembly, 30 of them used to “stuff” it with wiring, hydraulics and pneumatics, said Herman as he took the media round what he called the “most advanced full rate production line in the world”.

Super Hornet’s design incorporates all aspects of the aircraft, systems, performance and capabilities, fabrication and manufacture and life cycle support with computer design of structures and components, computer check for fit and assembly and digital shipping, handling and tracking and management on the floor.

Once the aircraft takes full form in final assembly, it is sealed and subjected to a 20-minute heavy rainstorm before it’s prepared for flight with all the dynamic structures put in place-engine, CADs (cartridge actuated devices), ejection seats, radar and avionics boxes - and all are run through functional checks.

The first flight is performed by the company test pilot and “gripes” that show up are fixed before the next flight and verified by the customer.

If India chooses to opt for Super Hornets, it will get the same assurance of real time operational capability with a proven solid design, under budget and on time delivery, said Herman, “from a team that delivers on promises”.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)