Navy To Pick Between French Rafale, US’s F-18 For Aircraft Carrier Ops
By IMR Reporter - July 5, 2022
The Navy requires fighter jets for its aircraft carrier operations for which it has carried out trials of the French Rafale and American F-18 aircraft.
In a press conference on indigenisation in the Navy, the Navy Vice Chief Admiral SN Ghormade said trials of the American and French aircraft have been done to know their capability for aircraft carrier operations.
“Trials of Rafale and Boeing F-18 have done to prove their capability of operating from aircraft carriers. Our aim is indigenisation. We have a Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) aircraft plan but it will take some time. By the time that indigenous project takes place, we are looking at buying aircraft from foreign sources under Inter-Governmental Agreement,” he said.
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When the INS Vikrant elevator size is revealed to be 10 m wide by 14 m long? Rafale-M doesn't have foldable wing, its wingspan is 10.9 m. F-18 folded wingspan is 9.93 m (based on 32.6 feet, other source give 30 feet 7 in = 9.32 m) and length 18.83 m, it can barely fit on the elevator, not to mention the hangar door is narrower than the elevator width.
If the elevator width is 10 m, then that hangar door is 8.77 m wide.
