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
-
![UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs]()
UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
-
![Loyal wingman programmes gather pace as US and European procurement plans take shape]()
Loyal wingman programmes gather pace as US and European procurement plans take shape
Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Anduril are positioning their uncrewed aerial vehicles for future collaborative combat aircraft contracts in a market that is forecast to exceed $36 billion.
-
![UK A400M Saudi deployment highlights airlifter’s role as Airbus pursues upgrades]()
UK A400M Saudi deployment highlights airlifter’s role as Airbus pursues upgrades
Airbus is developing new capabilities for its A400M transport aircraft as European countries consider future airlift requirements and the UK plans to deploy the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
-
![The new generation of defence companies emerging from the US UAV boom]()
The new generation of defence companies emerging from the US UAV boom
As the Pentagon accelerates procurement of low-cost, lethal UAVs through its Drone Dominance Program, emerging suppliers will need to demonstrate manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience and reliability.
-
![US Coast Guard faces key procurement decisions after C-130J and MQ-9B orders]()
US Coast Guard faces key procurement decisions after C-130J and MQ-9B orders
The service is updating several parts of its aviation fleet including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and procuring uncrewed aircraft to boost its maritime surveillance.
