NAVAIR begins F-18E Production Shutdown
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NAVAIR begins F-18E Production Shutdown
NAVAIR beginning production line shut down efforts on the FA-18E/F program.
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ASLO (yes I know) 
Boeing Completes F/A-18 Super Hornet Upgrade Ahead of Schedule 27 Jun 2024
https://seapowermagazine.org/boeing-...d-of-schedule/
"– Boeing delivers first two Service Life Modification (SLM) Block III fighters from two locations – St. Louis and San Antonio
– Public-Private Partnership agreement with Navy opens third Block III SLM production line
ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2024 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed the upgrade and life extension of the first two service life modification (SLM) F/A-18 Block III Super Hornets, delivering them to the U.S. Navy one month ahead of schedule from St. Louis and two months ahead of schedule from San Antonio. The upgraded jets have the same capabilities as Super Hornets being delivered from Boeing’s new-build production line.... said Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president. “These are just the first of many deliveries, with around 15 years of SLM deliveries to go.... The work is being done at Boeing sites in St. Louis and San Antonio, and at the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego...."
Boeing Completes F/A-18 Super Hornet Upgrade Ahead of Schedule 27 Jun 2024https://seapowermagazine.org/boeing-...d-of-schedule/
"– Boeing delivers first two Service Life Modification (SLM) Block III fighters from two locations – St. Louis and San Antonio
– Public-Private Partnership agreement with Navy opens third Block III SLM production line
ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2024 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed the upgrade and life extension of the first two service life modification (SLM) F/A-18 Block III Super Hornets, delivering them to the U.S. Navy one month ahead of schedule from St. Louis and two months ahead of schedule from San Antonio. The upgraded jets have the same capabilities as Super Hornets being delivered from Boeing’s new-build production line.... said Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president. “These are just the first of many deliveries, with around 15 years of SLM deliveries to go.... The work is being done at Boeing sites in St. Louis and San Antonio, and at the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego...."
That was ASLO a good thing for Australia. That Trump gave Boeing, a gift of BK lll funding and orders. The update includes a life extension from the now 6,000 to 10,000 hours. This enables us to push out the decision, of the super Hornet replacement platform.
I thought the reason Australia purchased the Super Hornet was because the F-111s were being phased out and its replacement, the F-35 was experiencing lengthy delays. So Super Hornets were purchased as a gap filler because of their supposed similarities to Australia's A/Bs. As Australia is now getting their F-35s, it would seem the replacement for the Super Hornet would be the 72 F-35s already planned with possibly a follow-on order if deemed necessary. Not sure what's intended to replace the 14 Growlers, though.
I thought the reason Australia purchased the Super Hornet was because the F-111s were being phased out and its replacement, the F-35 was experiencing lengthy delays. So Super Hornets were purchased as a gap filler because of their supposed similarities to Australia's A/Bs. As Australia is now getting their F-35s, it would seem the replacement for the Super Hornet would be the 72 F-35s already planned with possibly a follow-on order if deemed necessary. Not sure what's intended to replace the 14 Growlers, though.
The current govt has left it up to future governments to make the decision of when and what to replace them with. I would personally goto boeing and see if what the knock down price of another 24 super hornets with conformal tanks would be.
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I would personally goto boeing and see if what the knock down price of another 24 super hornets with conformal tanks would be.
The service life extension/mid-life upgrade lines are open - but you’ll have to find someone willing to sell you their current airframes to make use of those.
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"The U.S. Navy appears to have all but scrapped its plans to equip its future Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with conformal fuel tanks, or CFTs, at least for the time being. Boeing says it is not presently expecting to deliver any Block III jets with CFTs to the Navy. The service itself has also revealed that it issued a formal stop-work order to Boeing with regards to the continued development of the CFTs back in January [2021]...." [then lots of blah blah blah - who knows now if conformal tanks are worthwhile]
https://www.twz.com/42141/navy-halts...mal-fuel-tanks
_______________
Good overview of deeztanks and whyswherefors etc. from Billie Flynn.
Conformal Fuel Tanks – No Free Lunch 21 Oct 2021
https://billieflynn.com/conformal-fu...no-free-lunch/
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 30th Jun 2024 at 10:22. Reason: +txt
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This little conniption from 2008 about the "SUPER DOG squared SUPER HORNET" by CRISS amuses me to this day.
Australia’s multi-billion dollar defence dilemma ABC TV 18 Feb 2008: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2165833.htm
“MARK BANNERMAN (ABC TV interviewer): ...Last year, the then Defence Minister Brendan Nelson made a decision to purchase 24 Super Hornet jet fighters. It left defence experts stunned. Last year, you effectively said this plane was a dog. Have you changed your view in any way about that?
PETER CRISS: I said it was a super dog and it's a super dog squared as far as I'm concerned. As we found out more and more about it, it's abysmal in every area that is so critical to buying a fighter strike type aircraft. It cannot perform.
MARK BANNERMAN: The former chief of Australia's operational Air Force isn't just worried about the choice of the Super Hornet that he believes is slower and more vulnerable than the plane it replaces, what really concerns Peter Criss most is that no one inside the Defence Force or the department was prepared to stand up and argue against the decision.
PETER CRISS: I know there's a bunch of them that know the Super Hornet is a dog, alright. They've told me, they've told acquaintances of mine, friends of mine that they are terribly concerned about it. But it was the decision taken by the Minister at very short notice for whatever reasons and foisted on them....”
Australia’s multi-billion dollar defence dilemma ABC TV 18 Feb 2008: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2165833.htm
“MARK BANNERMAN (ABC TV interviewer): ...Last year, the then Defence Minister Brendan Nelson made a decision to purchase 24 Super Hornet jet fighters. It left defence experts stunned. Last year, you effectively said this plane was a dog. Have you changed your view in any way about that?
PETER CRISS: I said it was a super dog and it's a super dog squared as far as I'm concerned. As we found out more and more about it, it's abysmal in every area that is so critical to buying a fighter strike type aircraft. It cannot perform.
MARK BANNERMAN: The former chief of Australia's operational Air Force isn't just worried about the choice of the Super Hornet that he believes is slower and more vulnerable than the plane it replaces, what really concerns Peter Criss most is that no one inside the Defence Force or the department was prepared to stand up and argue against the decision.
PETER CRISS: I know there's a bunch of them that know the Super Hornet is a dog, alright. They've told me, they've told acquaintances of mine, friends of mine that they are terribly concerned about it. But it was the decision taken by the Minister at very short notice for whatever reasons and foisted on them....”
The US now has two open fighter lines currently delivering 50-year-old designs, one that is shutting down, another that can't deliver combat-ready aircraft until 4Q25, and no new aircraft in development.
Navy Halts Plans To Give Its Super Hornets Conformal Fuel Tanks (Updated) 25 Aug 2021
"The U.S. Navy appears to have all but scrapped its plans to equip its future Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with conformal fuel tanks, or CFTs, at least for the time being. Boeing says it is not presently expecting to deliver any Block III jets with CFTs to the Navy. The service itself has also revealed that it issued a formal stop-work order to Boeing with regards to the continued development of the CFTs back in January [2021]...." [then lots of blah blah blah - who knows now if conformal tanks are worthwhile]
"The U.S. Navy appears to have all but scrapped its plans to equip its future Block III F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with conformal fuel tanks, or CFTs, at least for the time being. Boeing says it is not presently expecting to deliver any Block III jets with CFTs to the Navy. The service itself has also revealed that it issued a formal stop-work order to Boeing with regards to the continued development of the CFTs back in January [2021]...." [then lots of blah blah blah - who knows now if conformal tanks are worthwhile]
OH damn SpazSinbad and LowObservable. Just need golder and they can **** up this thread like they did with the F-35 thread
