Enhancing the capabilities of australias super hornets. Boeing to refresh super hornets for us navy avionics. I know i can mod it with the tracker or better scanner to make it a variant between the ghost and tracker. With the lowest operational flight hour costs among all us tactical aircraft. Navy and boeing are working to update the services fleet of super hornet fighters to a new block iii standard while gradually updating existing planes to the new standard. Boeing recently announced it would begin installing initial updates to existing super hornets in the early 2020s, extending the life of the aircraft from 6,000 to 9,000plus flight hours. Navy aircraft to effectively operate together in the air wing for decades to come. Navy has decided to fund boeings fighter division to upgrade the services fa18e and fa18f super hornets to the block iii configuration. Evaluation of the super hornet and growler will conclude feb. Boeing, navy complete first super hornet flight with upgraded sensor the irst block ii pod is a passive, longrange sensor incorporating infrared and other sensor technologies for targeting, and is. The navy has already put on contract three super hornet upgrades included in boeing s new advanced super hornet design. In february boeing delivered the first super hornet modified under the service life modification program the slm upgrades are expected to extend each aircrafts service life from 6,000 to.
Boeing doesnt expect the navys super hornet upgrade efforts to end with the block iii program. When boeing delivered the super hornet, the major upgrade was the. Boeing pursues new customers with super hornet upgrades. Boeing ba will start upgrading its f a18 super hornet fighter jets under a solesource contract that the navy plans to award soon. The slm is part of the navys effort to upgrade super hornets to a block iii version, which will increase the aircraft service life from 6,000 to almost 10. Additional upgrades will include signature improvements and an enhanced communication system. First step in super hornet upgrade royal australian air force. Gillian and the boeing team call it the advanced super hornet, a modern update on the fa18ef super hornet, which itself was an update on the original fa18 hornet. The navys super hornets are getting an upgrade the super hornet block iii will have improvement to allow it to fight alongside the f35c for the foreseeable future. On a thursday morning this month, one of the navys wellused fa18 super hornets was taxied onto boeings north st.
The block iii upgrades of the tactical fighter are part of a service life. The upgrades will add extra life and new capabilities to the fa18. The aerospace and defense contractor aims to increase the aircrafts resistance to corrosion and extend its s. The new block iii configuration is on track for the u. The first option is to upgrade the existing super hornets to block iii super hornets, which boeing is now promoting as an option for the us. Boeings block iii upgrades for the super hornet platform will enhance the interoperablity of 4th and 5th generation strike and air combat. Boeing s super hornet production line just got a major boost from the us navy posted on december 6, 2016 by ian dcosta in in the news 1 comment an fa18e super hornet, assigned to the flying eagles of strike fighter squadron vfa 122, performs an arrested landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier uss george washington cvn 73. Boeings older advanced super hornet concept, showing the enclosed weapons pod in the centerline position. The first super hornet upgraded with the joint helmet mounted cueing system jhmcs was delivered to. Turning super hornets into super duper hornets to fight. Boeing ba delivered the first fa18 ef super hornet to the navy under service life modification slm updates, the company said thursday. Boeing is developing an advanced cockpit display for its block iii fa18 super hornet that pilots who were raised in the age of ipads will be comfortable using, a company official said.
Navy awarded boeing an indefinite delivery contract to begin overhauling the services fa18ef super hornet fleet. Boeing optimistic for more international super hornet. Navy and boeing are working to update the services fleet of super hornet fighters to a new block iii standard while gradually updating. Navy, which includes new build aircraft and upgraded planes, and will significantly enhance the lifespan and capabilities of the jets. Boeing super hornets receiving block iii avionics upgrades. Boeing kicks off design work for ea18g upgrade news flight. Boeing to start navy super hornet lifeextension upgrades. Boeing is scheduled to begin upgrade work on the u. Check out the powerful engine upgrade the navys fa18. With its origins in the advanced super hornet concept that was first revealed in august 20, the block iii upgrade is a more modest proposal designed to help the super hornet support the carrier air wing in the expected threat environments of the 2035s and beyond.
Boeing delivers first upgraded super hornet to navy. One represents the centrepiece of us naval air power build by the biggest. The anapg73 was integrated into upgraded fa18 hornet aircraft models c and. The boeing fa18e and fa18f super hornet are twinengine, carriercapable, multirole. Block iii adds five further main capability upgrades, as dan gillian explains. Enhancing the capabilities of australias super hornets with block iii. The super hornet block iii will have improvement to allow it to fight alongside the f35c for the foreseeable future. Super hornet upgrades add another boost at boeings north. In february 2019, the department of defense approved an offer for boeing and the navy to provide the ea18g growler fighter plane to finland, in response to a 2018 request for bids to replace its fa18 cd hornet fleet.
Navy photo by mass communication specialist seaman andrew schneiderreleased washington boeing believes an upcoming service life extension of. These two extremely potent fighterbombers are that rare breed, a fast jet able to operate in the punishing environment of the aircraft carrier. The work is part of a larger effort to refresh the super hornet. Boeing will be both building new super hornets and doing service life extensions on block ii aircraft to meet the navys acquisition needs, he added. Blue angels upgrade to super hornets moves forward with boeing contract. The companies, along with hornet industry team partners ge aviation and raytheon, are investing in more advanced technologies for the advanced super hornet, including internal infrared search and track, an enhanced engine and a nextgeneration cockpit. Building a stealthy super hornet has been one of trumps talking points since he was elected to the presidency. Boeing unveils new version of fa18 super hornet fighter jet. Boeing s fa18 super hornet block iii upgrade fightersweep staff no comments military aviation, navy, news, photos, video on march 1 the u. The company has identified eight potential international customers for the block iii super hornet including canada, switzerland, germany, poland, finland, bulgaria, japan and india. The upgrades include a large display advanced cockpit system to allow pilots to process and share more information, a boeing distributed targeting processor network dtpn that complies with open. Us navy receives first upgraded fa18 super hornet block iii. The second slm jet will deliver by the end of the month, and boeing will deliver the third fa18 in april.
The infrared search and track system irst, already in. Boeing, navy complete first super hornet flight with. The boeing fa 18e and fa18f super hornet are twinengine, carriercapable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the mcdonnell douglas fa18 hornet. The work was the first stage of the super hornet spiral upgrade program. Boeings super hornet production line just got a major. Boeing inducted the first fa18 into the service life modification program, which will modernize and extend the life of the u. The fa18 block iii super hornet is designed to meet canadas broad range of mission needs at an affordable price. Growler block ii and include features already on the fa18ef super hornet. Boeing ba will start upgrading its fa18 super hornet fighter jets under a solesource contract that the navy plans to award soon. Boeing pushing for new kit on super hornets, growlers. Louis, missouri in april next year, flightglobal reported friday.
The fa18e singleseat and fa18f tandemseat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the fa18c and d hornet. According to dan gillian, boeing fa18 and ea18 program manager, stealth isnt the priority of this update, but its included as part of an effort to give the super hornet a balanced. Boeing has given an fa18 a new lease on life after delivering the first super hornet under service life modification to the u. Boeing pitches soupedup super hornets during upcoming. Navy has decided to fund boeings fighter division to upgrade the services fa18e and fa18f super hornets to the block iii. Louis in early april, received a warm welcome during a ceremony on may 4 attended by u. Less than a thousand days separated the service entry of the french rafale m and the boeing fa18ef super hornet. Boeing s ba leader for the super hornet and growler aircraft is optimistic that the company will see more international interest in fa18 super hornets in a press event on wednesday, dan gillian, boeing vice president for the fa18 super hornet and ea18g growler programs, said the company anticipates deliveries of fa18 efs to kuwait in 2020. All upgrades must be applied before the persistent universe beta launch. The navy has ordered 110 block iii super hornets, which will begin production in 2020. The upgrades and enhancements to the block iii configuration are retrofitable to. Boeing s block iii upgrades for the super hornet platform will enhance the interoperablity of 4th and 5th generation strike and air combat capabilities of many air forces, with the raafs super hornets prime candidates for the modernisation program. Boeing has started design work to upgrade the us navys usn fleet of ea18g.
Boeing has developed an advanced cockpit system acs for the companys block iii super hornets. The boeing company contracted l3 link for a software update to the h12 ofp used by the u. What are the drawbacks of the boeing fa18ef super hornet. Us navy receives first upgraded fa18 super hornet from. Boeing advanced super hornet demonstrates significant. Boeing wins additional contract to upgrade f18 super.
Boeing, navy complete first super hornet flight with upgraded sensor the irst block ii pod is a passive, longrange sensor incorporating infrared and. The refresh is expected to add 50% to the fighters flight hours, from 6,000 to at least. Kornegay on wednesday said boeing doesnt anticipate the super hornet with block iii upgrades to be in direct competition with the f35. Acquisition and sustainment group, boeing defence australia and raytheon australia. The most significant item that the company is still looking at is the integration of an improved. President donald trump has asked boeing to upgrade the f18 super hornet as far as it can to compensate for the continuing rising costs and development problems plaguing the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii joint strike fighter that is supposed to succeed it. Us navy, boeing may upgrade old fa18 super hornets. They have improved upon the old legacy jet which is today a still potent jet fighter and is still in service with many air forces.
An advanced super hornet prototype was selffunded by boeing and northrop grumman and its flight tests began on aug. The cost to procure and maintain the aircraft is lower than other platforms, making it an affordable, total life cycle solution to operate for decades. Boeing super hornet program gets second life through. Navy fa18 fleet of super hornet aircraft is set to get a touch of modernization. Heres where boeing aims to take the super hornet in the. Navys fa18ef super hornet aircraft at a company facility in st. Boeing is pushing ahead with the block iii fa18e f super hornet program for the u. Boeing has developed the block iii super hornet to complement existing and future air wing capabilities. Navy will receive the block iii super hornet fighters and its nextgen capabilities through 2033 as our teams deliver new aircraft and update existing aircraft through the service life modification program. Dan gillian, boeing s vice president in charge of the fa18 and ea18 growler programs, said the next super hornet in need of upgrades should be delivered to boeing. When the us navys block 2 fa18ef super hornets start returning to maintenance facilities in 2018 for planned servicelifeextension modifications to allow the heavily used aircraft to log more flight hours, it may be an ideal opportunity to add new capabilities to the jet as well, boeing officials said this week.