Summary

  • Boeing completes Block III Super Hornet upgrades ahead of schedule.
  • Upgrades include large-area display and powerful computing capabilities.
  • F/A-18 Super Hornets to continue serving the Navy until replaced by F-35Cs.

Boeing has announced it has completed the upgrade and life extension of the first two service life modification F/A-18 Block III Super Hornets. They were completed a month ahead of schedule at the St. Louis facility and two months ahead of schedule at the San Antonio facility. The F/A-18 family of fighter jets has arguably been one of the Navy’s most successful and versatile post-WWI2 carrier-based fighter designs.

Boeing upgrades Super Hornets ahead of schedule

The upgraded Block III Super Hornets now have the same capabilities as Boeing’s latest new-production Super Hornets. Boeing stated, “In partnership with the Navy, Boeing has improved productivity and is completing Block III upgrades ahead of the 15-month contract requirement.

an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Flying Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 takes off from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt

Photo: USN

The Block III upgrades include a large-area display and more powerful computing (achieved through the Tactical Targeting Network Technology and a Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked open mission systems processor).

Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president, remarked, “These are just the first of many deliveries, with around 15 years of SLM deliveries to go. Our warfighters are counting on us to get this right every time.” The upgrades are being carried out at Boeing sites in San Antonio, St. Louis, and the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego.

Captain Michael Burks, the program manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office. “These first deliveries of Block III SLM jets are a major milestone in our continued efforts to ensure capability, reliability, availability and maintainability of the Super Hornet aircraft.”

7969027 - Flight Operations [Image 4 of 8] - An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213, lands on the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Aug. 12, 2023.
Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Simon Pike | USS Gerald R. Ford | US Navy

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The F/A-18 family is “the” carrier-based fighter jet of the modern era. It has been progressively upgraded and modernized over the years, and today, the Super Hornet is a world apart from its original Hornet ancestors.

The Navy placed what is expected to be the service’s last order for the Super Hornet for 95 Block IIIs. The last F/A-18 Super Hornets are expected to be delivered in 2027, and then production will be shuttered. According to Breaking Defense, Boeing has previously said there “are no active discussions with the Navy about additions to F-18s beyond these” while also noting that Boeing has failed to find more international export orders. A limited number of Super Hornets were sold to Australia and Kuwait, but Australia is now transitioning to F-35A fighter jets, while Kuwait has also ordered Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

4009571  Super Hornet bombed up in the sunset
Photo: Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Parkinson | United States Air Forces Central | US Air Force

Boeing will focus on building other aircraft (such as the F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet, T-7 Red Hawk jet trainer, and MQ-25 Stingray), and the Navy will work on gradually replacing the F/A-18 family with F-35C Lightning IIs. While the Navy has begun retrofitting and certifying its carrier fleet to operate F-35Cs, the Super Hornet will continue to serve the Navy for many years.

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