Boeing to cease Super Hornet production in 2025 unless Indian deal goes ahead
The F/A-18 Super Hornet is currently in competition for the Indian Navy's Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighter programme. (Photo: US DoD)
Unless a new export order is placed, Boeing will cease production of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler in late 2025, the company said on 23 February.
The last Super Hornets will be delivered to the USN at a rate of two aircraft per month.
‘We are planning for our future, and building fighter aircraft is in our DNA,’ Steve Nordlund, Boeing Air Dominance VP and St Louis site leader, said.
‘As we invest in and develop the next era of capability, we are applying the same innovation and expertise that made the F/A-18 a workhorse for the US
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.