More Super Hornets to undergo life extension
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. (Photo: Boeing)
Boeing is extending the service life of USN-operated F/A-18E/F aircraft.
Boeing will extend the service life of 32 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft for the USN, under a $366.46 million modification to a previously awarded IDIQ contract.
Work under the latest award Naval Air Systems Command will be performed in San Antonio, Texas (80%) and St Louis, Missouri (20%), for completion in May 2024.
Boeing delivered the first Super Hornet to the USN in February 2020 under the Service Life Modification (SLM) Block III conversion programme.
The initial Super Hornets delivered under SLM extended the aircraft’s service life from 6,000 to 7,500 flight hours.
However, future modification plans in the early 2020s will incorporate new Block III capabilities and enable the aircraft to fly 10,000 hours.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![USAF to use augmented reality technology in F-16 cockpit]()
USAF to use augmented reality technology in F-16 cockpit
The US Air Force awarded Red6 a contract to install its ATARS software into the aircraft to provide new training solutions, following successful integrations in the T-38 Talon and MC-130.
-
![Nuclear “Manhattan Project-type endeavour” plausible for AI advancement, says UK Chief of Defence Staff]()
Nuclear “Manhattan Project-type endeavour” plausible for AI advancement, says UK Chief of Defence Staff
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also urged caution over a “drone-tastic” way of thinking when it comes to their use alongside traditional air and underwater domain platforms.
-
![Teal Drones delivers first Black Widows as parent company reports six-month loss]()
Teal Drones delivers first Black Widows as parent company reports six-month loss
In July 2025 Teal Drones was awarded Tranche 2 of the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) programme for a small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS).
-
![Elbit Systems discloses Iron Beam update and work on laser solution for IAF]()
Elbit Systems discloses Iron Beam update and work on laser solution for IAF
In its Q2 earnings call, the company said it has internal targets set for similar double-digit growth for 2026, as it welcomed a 21% boost in 2025 profits so far compared to 2024.
