Article Posted on : - Jul 27, 2010

US Navy gets the first F/A-18 Super Hornet featuring a gun bay door manufactured by HAL on July 20. A Boeing photo

ST. LOUIS (BNS): Boeing has delivered the first F/A-18 Super Hornet featuring a gun bay door manufactured by India-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the US Navy on July 20.

HAL manufactures the gun bay door at its facility in Bangalore. The contract is the first military contract between Boeing and HAL.

The Boeing F/A-18IN Super Hornet is a competitor in India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Competition. India is expected to replace many aging aircraft in coming years, including its MiG-21s and MiG-27s.

The two companies are working together on projects for the P-8I multi-mission maritime aircraft and for the commercial Boeing 777 airplane.