Washington, April 25: :Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which is competing to corner the lucrative supply of multi- role combat fighters to India, has sent a detailed proposal offering its advanced Super Hornet to the Indian Air Force.

"Our proposal team worked diligently to fully understand and meet the requirements set out by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD). We are offering India the best-value, most advanced and proven multi-role combat fighter in production today," Jim Albaugh, President and CEO, Boeing Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) said in a statement.

India had issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for 126 new multi-role combat fighters in August 2007. The Boeing Company is said to have delivered a detailed, 7,000-page proposal offering its advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to meet India's effort to acquire Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA).

"Boeing's strategic goal has been to seek a long-term partnership with India to help strengthen the country's aerospace capabilities and enhance its national security,"

Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Precision Engagement and Mobility Systems said in a statement issued from St.Louis. He said choosing the F/A-18E/F would give Indians a direct hand in building an advanced fighter aircraft that will robustly defend their shores and airspace, infuse new strength into the IAF, and serve as a catalyst for India's growing defence aerospace industry.

"One of the concerns in India is the cost of owning and maintaining combat fighters over their lifetime," said Vivek Lall, Boeing IDS vice president and India-country head.

"The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet offers a very attractive life-cycle-cost dynamic, since the fighter won't need a scheduled visit to a maintenance depot until it has clocked a minimum of 6,000 hours of flying time, and even well beyond that," he stressed.

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