Mattis orders review to compare F-35C with Super Hornet

The U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work has been given his first major assignment from new boss Jim Mattis.

F-35C Lightnings of VFA-101 and F-18 Super Hornets in flight near NAS Fallon in September 2015
By U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Darin Russell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The new Secretary of Defense wants Work to do a review “that compares F-35C and F/A-18 E/F operational capabilities and assesses the extent that F/A-18 E/F improvements (an advanced Super Hornet) can be made in order to provide a competitive, cost effective, fighter aircraft alternative.”

The review is to start immediately, according to the memo from Mattis.