The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $1.3 billion contract on Mar. 19 to deliver 17 advanced F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet fighter jets, bolstering its fleet of carrier-based combat aircraft. This agreement also includes a critical technical data package that will ensure the long-term operational readiness and maintenance of these jets. The agreement comes after previous negotiations for the Navy’s final batch of Super Hornets stalled in late 2023 due to rising aircraft costs.
“The Super Hornet remains a predominant aircraft in the carrier air wing,” said Rear Admiral John Lemmon, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs, highlighting the aircraft’s continued importance.
The 2023 impasse stemmed from a growing price tag for the fighter jet. Originally, Congress appropriated and authorized about $1.15 billion, which with the Navy’s estimate of $55.7 million per aircraft, could have purchased 20 Super Hornets. However, negotiations stalled as the true cost per aircraft climbed.
This new contract reflects a compromise. Though securing only 17 jets for $1.3 billion translates to a higher price per aircraft, it marks a resolution to the previous impasse. As Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Va.), vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee and chair of the tactical air and land forces subcommittee, stated in November last year, “The number of dollars will not go as far, but those aircraft need to be built.”
The agreement not only bolsters the Navy’s fighter force but also keeps the Super Hornet production line running. Originally slated for completion in 2025, deliveries of these new jets will now begin in late 2026 and conclude by spring 2027, extending production for an additional two years.
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