The US Navy awarded Boeing a USD 1.3 billion contract on 19 March 2024 for the purchase of 17 F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet fighters and delivery of a technical data package vital to the sustainment of the aircraft, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced the same day.
“The technical data package was a crucial part of this negotiation; it is necessary for naval aviation’s operational readiness and post-production sustainment,” Rear Admiral John Lemmon, NAVAIR’s Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs, was quoted as saying. “The Super Hornet remains a predominant aircraft in the carrier air wing and will continue to provide significant combat capability into the 2040s.”
“The US Navy received appropriated funds from Congress to purchase these Super Hornets to help mitigate a shortfall in strike fighters,” stated NAVAIR. “The award is an undefinitized contract action with the intent to definitise within the next few months.”
“I am very proud of our team; their mission-focused mindset, data-driven approach and persistence resulted in an agreement that will greatly benefit the sustainment of the Super Hornet and Growler aircraft well into the future,” said Captain Michael Burks, programme manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office. “It is our job to ensure our warfighters have all the necessary resources to defend our nation and return home safely.”
Delivery of the new Super Hornets is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2026, with final delivery no later than the spring of 2027.
In recent years the US Navy has sought to draw Super Hornet production to a close so that it can instead direct funds into its Next-Generation Air Dominance programme. US Congress, however, concerned that production of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters could fall short, mandated the acquisition of more Super Hornets.
The purchase was originally supposed to cover 20 F/A-18E/Fs – with USD 977 million added to the US Navy’s budget in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) for 12 of them and USD 600 million added in FY 2023 for eight – but delays to the contract have meant that only 17 Super Hornets can be bought with that money.
Boeing has previously indicated that it would close the Super Hornet line in 2025, but the additional order for US Navy Super Hornets does, at least, keep the production line open for an extra year or so, allowing for the extended possibility of further exports of the type.
