US Navy signs for 124 more Super Hornets

[maddog65]

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... rnets.html

US Navy signs for 124 more Super Hornets
By Stephen Trimble

Boeing will build another 124 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers through at least 2013 under a $5.3 billion, four-year deal signed on 28 September by the US Navy.

The contract signing comes more than four months after both sides resolved a pricing dispute and ensures that Boeing will remain in the fighter business for the next four years as it pursues additional new orders on the foreign market.

Since 2000, Boeing had received two multi-year contracts to build nearly 500 Super Hornets and Growlers. Such multi-year procurements (MYP) are expected to reduce manufacturing costs by lowering the risk for suppliers to make long-term investments in efficiency improvements.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates complained earlier this year that Boeing had offered cost savings of only 7%, which fell short of the Department of Defense's 10% minimum for approving multi-year awards.

Both sides reached agreement on the $5.3 billion amount, or $42.7 million per aircraft. This sum is about 10% lower than the inflation-adjusted price for the Super Hornet in the previous multi-year buy, and more than 13% lower than the initial MYP contract signed 10 years ago.

Boeing needs to keep the Super Hornet production line going for several years to compete for foreign orders. The company is currently offering the Super Hornet to Brazil, India and Japan.

The Royal Australian Air Force has already ordered 24 two-seat F/A-18F to replace its General Dynamics F-111s, the last of which will be retired on 2 December. Its Block II Super Hornets will also provide a stopgap until the service's introduction of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Boeing has meanwhile completed production activities on the RAAF's first of 12 Super Hornets that could later be configured to conduct electronic attack missions.

Australia has now received 11 aircraft under its Super Hornet programme, with the remainder to be delivered to Amberley air base in Queensland through 2011.

[VulcanDriver]

Interesting. Is the USN getting cold feet over the F-35?

[maddog65]

I don't think they are getting cold feet yet....... Not sure how the lot is being split up like how many E/F and G's. I would gather more are going to be the G's as the Navy wants to get rid of the Prowler. Besides as the Prowler goes away there is going to be a excess of NFO's with out a ride.

[Victory103]

Like the USAF, the USN needed to fill the "fighter gap" as most of the legacy Hornets are high on traps and flight hours. The NFO's will go to other communities for the most part, as with other airframes that have retired (F-14/S-3). The USMC will keep the Prowler until the F-35B comes online with the EW system, I wish they would just buy Supers instead!

[VulcanDriver]

I wish the uk would buy the F-18 instead of the F-35B. it would be cheaper and it's better looking aircraft!