'We are pleased to be given the opportunity to showcase the formidable capabilities of the F/A-18 Super Hornet to India and to demonstrate that this combat-proven strike fighter will inject advanced military strength into both the Indian Air Force and into India's defence aerospace sector,' Vivek Lal, India country head of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) had previously said of the trials.

The trials were witnessed from the IAF's aircraft systems and training establishment (ASTE) complex, located at the HAL airport, by an IAF evaluation team and officials from the defence ministry, HAL, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the directorate general of aeronautical quality assurance at air headquarters.

The IAF has formed two teams of two test pilots each for the flight trials, which will be conducted in three stages: pilot familiarisation, field trials and weapons systems trials. The third stage will be conducted in the country of manufacture.

The technical evaluation was completed early this year after the six manufacturers responded to the IAF's Request for Proposal (RFP) in August 2007.

The IAF plans to acquire 18 aircraft in fly-away conditions, with the rest being manufactured by HAL under a technology transfer deal. The aircraft are meant to replace the IAF's ageing fleet of MiG-21 that were first inducted in the 1960s.

Boeing IDS had flown in the two fighters, along with a midair refueller, to Bangalore Aug 14. Besides test pilots, the Boeing team consists of flight test engineers, technicians and officials dealing with the bid.