The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter gained a two-year lifespan with a new acquisition contract by the US Navy from Boeing.
The new agreement worth US$1.137 billion was revealed on March 19 and provides for the manufacture of 10 F/A-18Fs from Lot 46 in addition to two other F/A-18Fs and five F/A-18Es from Lot 47 in a total of 17 aircraft.
According to the Department of Defense, most of the work will take place at units in Hazelwood, Missouri (46.7%) and El Segundo, California (35.8%), but also with other smaller locations including Canada.
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The deadline for completing the new program is April 2027, keeping the 4th generation fighter in production for some time longer.
End of production in 2025
Boeing had stated in February 2023 that it planned to close the Super Hornet assembly line at the end of 2025 if no new agreement was reached.
Until recently, the manufacturer was competing for an order from the Indian Navy to equip its new aircraft carrier Vikrant with fighters.
Boeing even carried out ski-jump takeoff tests with the F/A-18 to prove its capability, however, India selected the Dassault Rafale M in July last year.
Versatile, the Super Hornet took on the role of several carrier-based aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat, the first-generation Hornet and the A-7 Corsair and A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, including the EA-6B electronic warfare version.
