Basically, comes down to these factors-
FA18 - Can fit elevator with no modification with folded wing. Growler configuration as force multiplier. Two seat variants can do carrier operations.
Rafale - Better flight parameters, more hardpoints. Wings need to have parts removed to fit elevators. No two seat carrier variant.
Since the IAF has bought the Rafale and does joint exercises with IN for maritime, the Navy will by the Rafale. I would have the F-18 though because the French don't like to fight and have a shoot and scoot way of fighting for their personel and Civilian French Resistance as whe have witnessed in a lot of video footage from WW2.
This ideology affects the India Defence services in a very subtle way which use French equipment and then slowly makes mutated moves due to the same ideology trickling down from bought equipment, personell who have come to India for training our personell and most the difficult part here is the companies from France that have 'joined hands' with the Defence industry here.
We need like minded Countries with same future goals likes us to work with India.
Now the French have the EU and that means a conglomerate of countries which have fought each other in 2 world wars, and most importantly, Europe isnt a democracy as they have small monarchies, which the U.S. and India lack.
Therefore they might not understand fully what this country needs due to the conglomerate influence on them. Therefore to think of any other country other then the U.S. for future mutual trusted benefits is in my opinion a no-no.
The Super hornet is my choice for the IN as we don't see French aircraft carriers in deep waters all over the world. They have a single carrier only.
The future gets us the ORCA with the GE 414 with future, much more powerful variants, the Hornet has the same engines so it's a big win for the engineers.
My humble request to the committee is to buy the Boeing Super Hornet for the IN and for the IAF too instead of fumbling with French equipment.
