Game-Changer: Boeing's Latest Upgrades to the F/A-18 Super Hornet are a Big Deal

Summary and Key Points: Boeing has completed upgrades to the first U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet ahead of schedule, delivering two Service Life Modifications (SLM) Block III fighters.

-These enhanced Block III Super Hornets feature advanced avionics, more powerful computing, and a large area display, ensuring the aircraft remains at the forefront of defense technology. With these upgrades, the Navy's Super Hornet fleet is set to maintain its operational capability until 2030.

-The improvements come as the Navy plans to phase out the Super Hornet production by 2027, shifting focus to other advanced programs.

F/A-18 Super Hornet Upgrade: Boeing Delivers Advanced Fighters Early

Aerospace giant Boeing announced last week that it had completed the upgrade to the first of the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet ahead of schedule, and delivered the first two Service Life Modifications (SLM) Block III fighters from its facilities in St. Louis and San Antonio. The aircraft that underwent the upgrade at the former location arrived a full month early, while the Super Hornet from the Texas facility was two months ahead of schedule.

"Our success in meeting the accelerated timeline is proof our service life modification game plan is working," said Faye Dixon, Boeing SLM director. "Thanks to our years of learning on the program and our partnership with the Navy, the F/A-18 Super Hornet remains at the forefront of defense technology with renewed years of service to support the fleet."

As reported by SimpleFlying.com, the F/A-18 has been one of the United States Navy's most successful and versatile aircraft since the Second World War, and the upgraded Block III aircraft have the same capabilities as the latest new-production Super Hornets.

"Great measures were taken by the Boeing and Navy teams to ensure these are the safest and most capable Block III F/A-18s we can give our warfighters," added Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president. "These are just the first of many deliveries, with around 15 years of SLM deliveries to go. Our warfighters are counting on us to get this right every time."

The Block III Upgrades – Improving a Proven Warbird

The Block III enhancements to the F/A-18 Super Hornets add a large area display and more powerful computing through Tactical Targeting Network Technology and a Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked open mission systems processor.

It was in March that the aerospace firm and the U.S. Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Southwest signed a Public-Private Partnership agreement to expand the work scope – and that allowed the Block III SLM work to be completed in both St. Louis and San Antonio.

"These first deliveries of Block III SLM jets are a major milestone in our continued efforts to ensure capability, reliability, availability and maintainability of the Super Hornet aircraft," explained Capt. Michael Burks, program manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office. "We look forward to our continued partnership with Boeing to deliver this critical warfighting capability to the fleet."

Existing F/A-18 Super Hornets in the fleet are now on track to be upgraded to the Block III version, with progress to be completed by 2030. Delivery of the final 17 Block III aircraft is currently expected to begin in winter 2026 and reach completion in the spring of 2027, according to Naval Air System Command.

That contract was valued at $1.3 billion and will include a technical data package that is described as vital to the sustainment of the platform.

More Updates Coming

It was announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Navy has approved plans for L3Harris to equip the service's legacy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornets with advanced electronic warfare (ADVEW) technologies. The contractor recently completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR), part of a $80 million contract to update key systems on the carrier-based fighter.

L3Harris said it is aiming to complete Prototype System Integration Lab Testing this summer.

End of the Line Coming for the Super Hornet

Boeing continues to run its Super Hornet production line for the carrier-based multirole attack aircraft, but the production could cease after 2027 after the final aircraft are delivered to the U.S. Navy. While the aerospace contractor secured a new $1.3 billion U.S. Navy contract for 17 new Super Hornets – after months of tense negotiations on the price for the twin-engine aircraft – Boeing has failed in finding additional customers, while there remain no recent discussions with the Navy for any further F/A-18s.

As previously reported, the aircraft maker will begin to slow down its build rate of two jets per month to just one and a half, while it pivots its St. Louis Super Hornet workforce towards other Boeing programs – including the F-15EX, T-7A trainer, and MQ-25 refueling.

The end of production of the F/A-18 won't actually mean an end to the program. The Super Hornet, an upgraded, enlarged, and improved version of the F/A-18 Hornet, first entered service in 1999. It has remained the workhorse for the U.S. Navy for a quarter century, and those final Super Hornets will likely be flying for decades to come as well.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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