Boeing has contracted BAE Systems to upgrade the fly-by-wire flight control computers of the F-15EX Eagle II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets.
The F-15EX is flown by the US Air Force while the F/A-18E/F is operational with the US Navy.
The upgrade includes modernizing the computers’ electronics hardware and software for increased processing power and cyber and product security, along with addressing obsolescence issues.
“Our advanced flight-critical solution ensures that these platforms will maintain fleet readiness now, and in the future, as well as provisions the aircraft to support the integration of new functions,” senior director of Military Aircraft Systems for Controls and Avionics Solutions at BAE Systems Corin Beck said.
The F/A-18E/F flight control computers will also receive an additional processor to support future capability additions.
Flight Control Computers
The computers manage flight by “processing pilot inputs, monitoring real-time aircraft movement conditions via on-board sensors, and transmitting commands to actuators that move the control surfaces,” according to BAE.
“The advanced fly-by-wire flight control computer allows the pilot to focus more on the mission and less on flying the aircraft,” the company explained.
The upgrade will take place at BAE’s facility in Endicott, New York.