Boeing's Eagle-II fighter may join race for Indian Air Force contract

Move may result in the US aircraft manufacturer pulling out Super Hornet from MRCA contest; tender value could be $15-20 billion

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is acquiring 114 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) from the global market, will relish the option of buying the highly capable F-15EX Eagle-II, developed and built by The Boeing Company.

The Eagle-II is the world’s fastest (Mach 2.5, or 3,100 kilometres per hour) and most heavily-armed (payload of 13.6 tonnes, or 30,000 pounds) fighter, with the longest strike range (1,200 nautical miles or 2,222 kilometres). It has scored 104 kills in air-to-air combat without suffering a single loss.

Boeing has obtained a mandatory licence from the US government for discussing an F-15 sale with India. Pratyush Kumar,