Boeing delivers first Super Hornet for USN Blue Angels
Boeing on 3 June reported that it has delivered the first F/A-18 Super Hornet test aircraft for the USN’s Blue Angel flight demonstration squadron.
The company has delivered 23 modified Blue Angel aircraft since 2008. It expects to deliver an additional 11 to the squadron by the end of 2020.
The first Super Hornet will now enter flight test and evaluation processes at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets are converted into Blue Angels by Boeing at the company’s Cecil Field facilities in Jacksonville, Florida.
The conversion includes an addition of an oil tank for the smoke-generation system, fuel systems that extend its operational flight time, civilian-compatible navigation software and cameras.
Adm (ret) Pat Walsh, VP of USN & USMC Services for Boeing, said: ‘As Boeing continues to support the operational fleet of Navy Super Hornets, we are excited to see this platform enter a critical phase of its journey to joining the team.’
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP]()
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.
-
![Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade]()
Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade
Today's rapidly changing security landscape means that armed forces can no longer treat their data in the same way as in the past. What are the key challenges they face, and how can industry help them?
-
![US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027]()
US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027
The House Armed Services Committee recently released the Chairman’s NDAA FY2027 markup, which supports the Pentagon’s request for nearly $90 billion for long-range missiles, air defence interceptors, precision-guided munitions and industrial baseline items.
