Boeing has secured a $1.1-billion contract to supply additional F/A-18 Super Hornets to the US Navy, withdrawing its previous decision to stop producing the aircraft by 2025.
According to a US Department of Defense announcement, the company will produce 10 F/A-18F Lot 46 aircraft and two F/A-18F Lot 47 aircraft.
It will also provide five F/A-18E Lot 47 aircraft, along with a technical data package to support sustainment efforts.
Most of the work for the contract will be performed in Missouri and California, with an expected completion date of April 2027.
A multi-role fighter, the F/A-18 Super Hornet has a maximum speed of Mach 1.7 and an operational range of up to 1,275 nautical miles (1,467 miles/2,361 kilometers).
It carries AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
Surprise Decision
In February last year, Boeing announced that it would no longer produce the Super Hornet beginning in 2025 after nearly four decades of building the fourth-generation warplane.
It said the decision was made to allow the company to redirect resources toward more modern military aircraft.
“As we invest in and develop the next era of capability, we are applying the same innovation and expertise that made the F/A-18 a workhorse for the US Navy and air forces around the world for nearly 40 years,” Boeing vice president Steve Nordlund said.
“We are planning for our future, and building fighter aircraft is in our DNA.”
The aviation giant said the timeline could be extended to 2027 if it receives new contracts to build additional F/A-18s.