Posted on 04/09/2024 3:52:26 AM PDT by Fish Speaker
SEA AIR SPACE 2024 — A recent Navy contract award may have extended the lifespan of Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet production for a couple more years, but after failing to find additional customers, the aerospace giant plans to close up shop on the legacy fighter after 2027, a Boeing executive tells Breaking Defense.
“We ran a number of international campaigns or competitions that we were unsuccessful in previous years,” Mark Sears, Boeing vice president for fighters, said in an interview. “Those kind of played out and there are no active discussions with the Navy about additional F-18s beyond these.”
Boeing will instead slow down its build rate of two jets per month to one and a half, while gradually pivoting its St. Louis Super Hornet workforce toward other programs like the F-15EX fighter, T-7A trainer and MQ-25 refueling drone, according to Sears. “We are growing at the site. And there is a need for the talent that exists on F-18 as we slow down and ultimately complete [the order],” Sears said, adding that Boeing doesn’t expect to see “any reductions” in the company’s workforce at the site as work on the Super Hornet winds down.
“Slowing down can be just as hard as speeding up, frankly, in the production space. We know there are challenges ahead for us in delivering these airplanes,” Sears cautioned, though he noted that Boeing doesn’t expect “any gaps” in deliveries. “We’re focused on delivering these jets on time in the new delivery schedule to the Navy because we know how badly the Navy needs this capability.”
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingdefense.com ...
The Super Hornet is functionally obsolete and is at the end of its line.
I’m very ignorant aeronautically, but can’t these planes be upgraded through new technology rather than spend billions trying to develop entirely new aircraft?
So where and when can I pick up a spare F18? LOL.
I’m sure SloJo will be more than happy to sell the assembly line to China…
The F-15 has always been a remarkable aircraft.
Bet F15 outlives F22 and F35. I’t versatile, fast, and comparatively economical. Who cares if they can see you coming if they can’t do anything to stop you?
The winner for longevity is still the B-52.
....don’t forget the venerable KC-135.....still chugging along after some 70 years or so....??
And the C-130 and the U2.
The Super Hornet is at heart a 1970s multi role naval aviation aircraft. It had two customer bases. Obviously one is naval aviation carrier forces but there are few of those and they all need the most modern front line aircraft. The second is multi role operators looking for a comparatively low cost strike fighter.
The US Navy has bought all the Super Hornets it needs to bridge its forces into the next generation of carrier opps.
Other carrier capable countries are either using domestic production aircraft for political reasons or a mix of F35C for large conventional aircraft carriers or STOVAL F35B to replace the Harrier jump jet on smaller vertical take off or ramp carriers
The Hornet has no more room to grow and too many compromises and limitations for carrier opps to make it a go for non aircraft carrier air forces looking to invest in a multi role strike fighter as the core of its air force for the next 30 years. All the current Super Hornet or Hornet operators are phasing out Hornets for F35s or some other new next gen air frame
The Super Hornet is a great plane but there are simply no buyers in the market to even buy existing F18s, much less fund a very expensive and risky upgrade deveoplment program at a time when the F35 is in the process of completing its own very expensive upgrade. Better to buy a vastly superior F35 with plenty of room to grow
The primary reason the US Navy is buying new Hornets is because the old ones have led a hard life and are worn out so it’s cheaper to buy new ones than to upgrade and patch up old ones while they wait for a next gen aircraft
Probably China.
“Maybe the Navy plans to get someone else to build more down the road?”
Biden said he needs the F-15 to use against “domestic terrorists”...
As air defenses continue to improve around the world, including through use of AI, non-stealth aircraft and their crew become ever more vulnerable.
It takes a lot of time and money to train military fighter pilots, so placing them in a position to be shot down or killed unnecessarily simply isn’t a long term option.
Unmanned attack drones with stealth capacity are the future.
I would have a good laugh if they gave the project to Airbus. :)
Boeing will keep making them because someone from the Missouri congressional delegation will keep funding the production line, even if the Navy doesn’t want or need them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.