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Category: Navy

The first Super Hornet to undergo SLM by FRCSW

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F/A-18F BuNo 166460 is the first Super Hornet to undergo the Service Life Modification (SLM) at the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), the U.S. Navy has announced.

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The first F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft to undergo the Service Life Modification (SLM) procedure at a naval aviation depot is pictured at the FRCSW testline June 29. The aircraft, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, will undergo induction for the SLM that will extend the airframe’s flight hours from 6,000 to 7,500. The procedure is estimated to take about 17 months. (U.S. Navy photo)

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VP-9 and HMS Westminster executed time-on-target Harpoon attack against ex-USS Boone

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The recently concluded sinking exercise (SINKEX) called Atlantic Thunder 22 allowed Combat Air Crew Six (CAC-6) from VP-9 to execute a coordinated time-on-target using Harpoon anti-ship missiles with the Royal Navy’s HMS Westminster.

An AGM-84D Harpoon missile is deployed off the wing of the P-8A by VP-9 during Atlantic Thunder 2022.

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VAQ-209 HARM live fire off Guam

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Two AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles were fired at the Marianas Islands Range Complex off Guam by VAQ-209 recently.

MARIANA ISLANDS RANGE COMPLEX, Guam (Aug. 30, 2022) EA-18G Growlers from the “Star Warriors” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 209 simultaneously fire two AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) during a training exercise near Guam. The AGM-88 HARM is a tactical air-to-surface missile which finds and destroys threat radar air defense systems. Supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and operating out of Andersen Air Force Base on the “Forward Edge” while utilizing the Marianas Islands Range Complex, VAQ-209’s live-fire exercise provided valuable training to ordnance personnel and aircrew alike. As the US Military’s only Reserve EA-18G squadron, VAQ-209 is currently forward deployed to Japan and operating across the Indo-Pacific as the expeditionary VAQ squadron currently assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Peter Scheu)

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