Boeing Defense was awarded $930.8 million in a new U.S. Navy contract to provide “service life modifications” for up to 60 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter jets. The goal is to extend the service life for the aircraft from 6,000 to 10,000 flight hours, and also to integrate Block III avionics capabilities.
The F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets are twin-engine multi-role aircraft in service to the U.S. Navy and several allied defense forces.
The F/A-18 program has been in place since 1995, but Boeing is due to end the series production this year.
The Navy operates several hundred of the fighters, most of which are dated to Block II of the series. Block III was introduced in 2020, and incorporates multiple improvements in networking capabilities, data processing power, range, and fuel capacity.
The latest series has a service life of 10,000 flight hours as a standard.
F/18 Block III avionics present a significant upgrade over Block II, and include an Advanced Cockpit System with a 10x19-inch touchscreen display in place of multiple smaller screens; a distributed targeting processor network for faster data processing; and the tactical targeting network technology that boosts data sharing; and an open mission systems architecture for future upgrades.
The Boeing Defense explained that “Block III transforms the Super Hornet into a more connected, aware, and adaptable fighter, ready to operate in complex future combat environments.”
Boeing will conduct the updates in San Diego, San Antonio, and St. Louis, and complete the assigned work by November 2028.
