Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

Fighter/Attack
December 2010

Richard Aboulafia
Vice President, Analysis
raboulafia@tealgroup.com

Program Briefing
The F/A-18 Hornet is a light-
weight twin-engine, mid-wing sin-
g l e - a n d tw i n - s e a t ( t r a i n e r )
multi-mission tactical fighter aircraft.
The prime manufacturer is Boeing
(formerly McDonnell Aircraft Co.),
with Northrop Grumman as the pri-
mary subcontractor.
Past production models include
the single-seat F/A-18A/C and the
twin-seat F/A-18B/D. The aircraft is
in service with the US Navy, US Ma-
rine Corps, Australia, Canada, Fin-
land, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, and
Switzerland. A major new-build up-
grade of the Hornet is now in produc-
tion, known as the F/A-18E/F (the F is
the twin seat variant) or Super Hornet.
This model flew in late 1995, and pro-
duction deliveries began in December
1998, with IOC in 2001. The Navy
plans to buy 578 F/A-18E/Fs includ-
ing 85 EA-18G electronic attack vari-
ants.

Executive
Dept. of the Navy
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
47123 Buse Rd. Unit 2272
Patuxent River, MD 20670-1547
Telephone: (301) 342-1487
www.navair.navy.mil

Manufacturer
Prime: Major Subcontractor:
The Boeing Co. Northrop Grumman Corp.
McDonnell Aircraft & Missiles Aircraft Div.
Box 516 1 Northrop Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63166 Hawthorne, CA 90250
(314) 232-7238 (213) 332-2127
www.boeing.com www.northropgrumman.com

©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
Subsystems
Airframe
About 20-22% by weight of the
F/A-18E/F airframe is constructed of
composites. This is up from the
10-12% found on the current C/D
model. The E/F wing is 25% larger,
and the aircraft’s empty weight is
25% greater, and the E/F has only
10% airframe commonality with the
C/D.
Boeing/Northrop Split
Northrop Grumman is responsible
for the center and aft fuselage sec-
tions of the F/A-18, and Boeing
(McDonnell) is in charge of the rest,
including final assembly. This
amounts to a 40% work share for
Northrop (42% on E/F) and 60% for
Boeing.
Airframe Subcontractors
Below is a listing of subcontrac-
tors and what they supply for the Hor-
net production program:
· Aero Vodochody: gun bay doors
· Aerospace Technologies of Aus-
tralia (ASTA): trailing edge flaps,
shrouds (also on E/F)
· Alliant Techsystems: pilot canopy
seal; IM-7 fiber (on E/F)
Propulsion System
Engines
The F/A-18 is powered by two
F404-GE-400 augmented turbofans,
rated at 16,000 lbst each. General
Electric Co.’s GE Aircraft Engines
Group, based in Cincinnati, OH,
builds the powerplants. Pratt & Whit-
ney, in East Hartford, CT, was quali-
fied as a second source although it
was discontinued in this role in 1989
because the Navy believed produc-
tion volume did not warrant split
buys.
An upgraded version of the en-
gine, called the Enhanced Perfor-
mance Engine (EPE) and designated
F404-GE-402, is now in production.
It has a rating of 17,700 lbst. The en-
gine powers Swiss and Kuwaiti Hor-
December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
· Allied Engineering and Produc-
tion: flush deck nose gear launch
installation kits for catapult system
· ATP Intellitec: composite flap
fairing components (on E/F)
· AMCAST Precision: investment
castings
· AMI Metals: stainless steel and
aluminum sheet and plate products
· Canadair (Bombardier): 50% of
all nose barrels required for USN
F/A-18s
· Brunswick: nose radomes
· CASA (EADS): horizontal tail
surfaces, flaps, leading edge ex-
tensions, speed brakes, rudders,
rear side panels
· Cyclone: leading edge extensions
($10 million contract for 60
shipsets, starting in 1994)
· Cytec Engineered Materials: com-
posite materials
· Dorne & Margolin: DM CN18 an-
tenna
· Dowty Aerospace Landing Gear:
landing gear on C/D and E/F
· Fleet Industries: composite doors
· GKN Aerospace: cockpit trans-
parency system, composite and
nets and is a candidate for retrofit on
all F/A-18s currently in service. New
production -402s for the USN/USMC
was included on FY92 and later pro-
curements, and for exports.
The F/A-18E/F is powered by the
F414-GE-400 (or F404 Growth 2+,
22,000 lbst). This uses the core of the
F412, an F404 derivative developed
for the cancelled A-12/ATA.
Propulsion System Subcon-
tractors
Below is a listing of subcontrac-
tors involved with the propulsion sys-
tem:
· Chandler Evans Control Systems ·
Division (Coltec Industries): F404
and F414 fuel pumps
Page 2
aluminum airframe parts (life of
program on E/F), titanium first
wing bulkhead
· Hexcel: composite materials
· Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd: gun
bay doors (E/F, starting 2010)
· Honeywell (Bendix Wheels and
Brakes): wheels and brakes (also
on E/F)
· ICI Fiberite: 9773 toughened ep-
oxy (on E/F)
· Integrated Aerospace: titanium
bulkheads, arresting shank assem-
bly, external fuel tanks (on E/F)
· Magellan A erospace: bulk-
heads/assemblies fo center barrel
retrofit (on C/D); titanium bulk-
heads, spindles, engine mounts,
formers (on E/F)
· Pneumo Dynamics: nose and main
landing gear
· Stellex Aerostructures: structural
components (on E/F)
· Wyman Gordon: bulkheads,
frame, wing ribs
· CPI Aerostructures: exhaust ducts
· Honeywell (Bendix Engine Con-
trols): F404 main fuel control sys-
tems
· Johnson Technology: nozzle seg-
ments
· Magellan Aerospace: components
for F414 on E/F
· MTU Aero Engines: 3.5% partner
role in F414
· Parker Hannifin: main fuel noz-
zles
· Vickers (Trinova): main engine
hydraulic pumps (on E/F; for
Northrop Grumman)
Volvo Flygmotor: components for
F414 on E/F
©Teal Group Corporation
Page 3 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

Electronics
Designation Description Manufacturer Note
Communications
AN/APX-111 IFF interrogator/transponder BAE Systems (Hazeltine) for retrofit to US C/D fleet
AN/ARA-63 receiver/decoder Eaton
AN/ARC-182 UHF/VHF radio n/a
AN/ASW-25 radio data link Harris
n/a IFF interrogator/transponder BAE Systems (Marconi) for E/F and retrofit to US
A/BC/D fleet
n/a communications system control Conrac
n/a telecom control units Telephonics F/A-18E/F
Displays & Instrumentation
AN/ARC-210 secure radio Rockwell Collins F/A-18E/F
AN/AVQ-28 head-up display Kaiser Electronics
AN/OD-150(V) multifunction display Kaiser Electronics
DASH Display And Sight Helmet Elbit available option as of June
1993
Eagle-6 multipurpose color display unitss Planar Advance/dpiX F/A-18E/F; for Kaiser
FID 2035 horizontal situation display BAE Systems (Ferranti)
ID-1791/A flight director indicator J.E.T.
n/a MPCD and UFCD displays Elbit (EFW) F/A-18E/F starting 2004
n/a liquid crystal displays Kaiser Electronics F/A-18E/F
n/a horizontal situation indicator Honeywell (Bendix)
n/a integrated engine and fuel display Hercules Aerospace Dis-
play Systems, Inc.
n/a integrated engine and fuel instru- Gull, Inc.
ments
n/a multi-purpose color cockpit dis- Smiths Industries
play
Electronic Warfare
AN/ALE-39 chaff dispenser Lockheed Martin (Loral) until FY93
AN/ALE-47 chaff/flare dispenser BAE Systems (Tracor) F/A-18E/F; C/Ds after FY93
AN/ALE-50 towed decoy Raytheon F/A-18E/F
AN/ALE-55 fiber optic towed decoys BAE Systems (Sanders) three on ALQ-214 (E/F)
AN/ALQ-126B ECM system BAE Systems (Sanders)
AN/ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive ECM system Lockheed Martin F/A-18E/F (starting with
Sanders/ITT fourth deployment)
AN/ALQ-162(V) jammer Northrop Grumman on second batch of 36 Span-
ish C.15s
AN/ALQ-165 ASPJ ECM system ITT/Northrop Grumman Finland, Switzerland, some
USMC; E/F until IDECM
AN/ALQ-218(V)2 Tactical Jamming Receiver Northrop Grumman (Litton EA-18G
Amecom)
AN/ALR-50 radar warning receiver Magnavox
AN/ALR-67 (V) 3 radar warning receiver Raytheon (Hughes) F/A-18E/F; (V) 2 on C/D
USQ-113(V)3 communications countermeasures BAE Systems (Sanders) EA-18G
Miscellaneous or Multipurpose Systems
AN/AYK-14 mission computer Control Data GD XN-8 on C/D
MIDS LVT Link 16 terminals BAE Systems/Rockwell Added to C/D and E/F in
Collins 2000
n/a air data recorder for Bendix Normalair-Garrett
maint. recording sys. (Westland)
Cat’s Eyes pilot night vision goggles BAE Systems (GEC) night attack Hornet
n/a digital memory device mission Harris on F/A-18E/F/G
planning interface
n/a cockpit pressure altimeter Kearflex
n/a flight incident recorder Spar Aerospace Applied
Systems Group
n/a fly-by-wire electronics General Electric
TAMMAC Tactical Airborne Moving Map Harris
Capability
n/a maintenance recording system Honeywell
WR-818 cockpit video recording system DRS Technologies
Navigation
AN/AAR-50 Thermal Imaging Navigation Set Raytheon (Hughes) night attack Hornet
(TINS)
AN/ARN-118 TACAN Rockwell Collins

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Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Page 4

AN/ASN-130A inertial navigation system Northrop Grumman being replaced by -139

(Litton)
AN/ASN-139 ring laser system Northrop Grumman replacing -130
(Litton)
AN/ASQ-196 digital map system Honeywell
DF-301E UHF/direction finder n/a
H-764 GPS/INS Honeywell E/F
n/a miniature airborne GPS receiver Rockwell Collins F/A-18C/D
n/a GPS receiver module Trimble F/A-18E/F
n/a embedded GPS Northrop Grumman F/A-18E/F
(Litton)
n/a standby airspeed indicator Kearflex
n/a standby altimeter Smiths Industries
n/a standby vertical speed indicator Kearflex
Sensors
AN/APG-65 multi-mode radar Raytheon (Hughes) APG-73 after 1993; to be re-
placed by APG-79 AESA
AN/APN-194 radar altimeter Honeywell
RecceLight Shared Reconnaissance Pod Rafael added to some Spanish
planes, 2001
ASD-12(V) Shared Reconnaissance Pod Raytheon F/A-18E/F; IOC 2003
(SHARP)
Weapons Control/Targeting
AN/AAS-38A attack FLIR Loral
AN/ASQ-173 laser detector tracker/strike cam- Lockheed Martin
era
ASQ-228(V) Advanced Targeting FLIR Raytheon (Hughes) F/A-18E/F; C/D upgrade
option
AN/AYQ-9(V) stores management system Lear Siegler
n/a Infrared Search and Track Lockheed Martin F/A-18E/F starting 2009
n/a director gunsight Boeing (MDC)
n/a laser designator BAE Systems
Sniper advanced targeting pod Lockheed Martin Canadian upgrade

Weapon Systems
The F/A-18 has nine external
weapons stations capable of carrying
a variety of stores. This includes mis-
siles such as the Raytheon AIM-9
S id e w in d e r, A I M- 7 S p a r r o w,
AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-65
Maverick, HARM, and AGM-84
Harpoon. Ordnance includes the
GBU-10 and -12 laser-guided bombs,
Mk 82/84 general-purpose bombs,
and the GBU-59 cluster bomb.
Teleflex builds the BRU-32A/A
bomb racks. RUAG Aerospace built
low drag pylons for the Swiss
F/A-18C/D buy. Also, a Lockheed
Martin M61 20mm rotary cannon is
mounted. Western Design Howden
builds gun loading systems. The Hor-
net can carry Brunswick’s ADM-141
TALD decoy. Smiths Industries pro-
vides its AYQ-9 stores management
system.
The F/A-18E/F can carry JDAM,
J S O W, A G M- 1 5 8 J A S S M,
SLAM-ER, and AIM-9X. In 2006
Australia selected JASSM as its next
generation cruise missile for its Hor-
net fleet.
An agreement signed at the 1989
Paris Air Show between McDonnell
Douglas and Matra of France in part
called for the integration of the MICA
air-to-air missile with the F/A-18, but
this has not proceeded.
The E/F can also act as an aerial re-
fueling tanker.

Other Subsystems
Other Subcontractors
Further subcontractors involved
with miscellaneous subsystems are as
follows:
· Acme Electric: battery systems
· Altair: manual control/emergency
brake valve assembly
· Arrowhead Products: bleed air
ducts (on E/F; for Northrop
Grumman)
· BCF Designs/Ultra Electronics:
fuel quantity test sets
· D o w ty A e r o s p a c e Y a k ima: · General Dynamics Information
holdback bar, fitting assembly,
nose landing gear door actuator
(on E/F)
· Ducommun: caution light assem-
bly panel and electromechanical
enclosures (on E/F)
· Dynamic Controls: windshield
temperature sensor
· Edo Canada: external composite
fuel tanks for CF-18s
· Elbit (Cyclone): fuel tanks (start-
ing 2009)
Systems: data storage system for
APG-79 radar (on E/F)
· General Electric: electrical power
system
· Hamilton Sundstrand: air turbine
starter; air conditioning system (on
E/F; for Northrop Grumman)
· Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd: wire
harnesses (E/F)
· Honeywell (AiResearch): air-con-
ditioning system, wing-folding
mechanical drive

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Page 5 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

· H o n e yw e ll ( G a r r e tt) : · Martin-Baker: SJU-5/6 pilot ejec- · Simmonds Precision: fuel gauging

GTCP36-200 auxiliary power unit
· Hughes-Treitler Manufacturing:
fuel/air heat exchanger
· Hughes Simulation Systems: op-
erational flight trainer
· Hydraulic Research: actuators
· Israel Military Industries: external
fuel tanks
· Kollsman (Sequa): pressure gen-
erators
· Leland AES: power generators
(also selected for E/F)
· Litton Life Support: OBOGS
· Lucas Western: airframe mounted
accessory drive (AMAD; also on
E/F; for Northrop Grumman)
· Manufacturing Technologies Inc:
pressure transmitter set
· Marconi Espanola: low voltage
power supply modules (Spanish
F-18s)
tion seat system
· Messier-Dowty: landing gear · S ta n d a r d T h o ms o n : h e a t
parts exchanger
· National Water Lift: tailplane · TRW: titanium power transmis-
servo-cylinder hydraulic units sion shafts (retrofit to C/D)
· Normalair-Garrett (Westland): · Textron: aileron hydraulic servo
breathing regulators cylinders
· Ozone Industries: nosewheel · Universal Propulsion Co: aircrew
steering unit escape system components
· Parker Bertea (Hannifin): trailing · Valcor Engineering: self-displac-
edge flap hydraulic cylinders ing hydraulic accumulators
· Rolls-Royce Gear Systems: air-
frame mounted accessory drive
upgrades
· Saab: BOL countermeasures dis-
penser for RAAF E/Fs
· Seagate: data storage system (on
E/F)
· Signal Technology: power sup-
plies for APX-111 IFF (on E/F)

Specifications
F/A-18C F/A-18E
Length (overall): 56 ft (17.1 m) 60 ft 1 in (18.3 m)
Height (overall): 15 ft 4 in (4.7 m) 16 ft (4.9 m)
Wing span (over wingtip
missiles): 40 ft 5 in (12.3 m) 44 ft 9 in (13.6 m)
Wing area: 400 sq ft (37.2 sq m) 500 sq ft 46.5 sq m)
Tail span: 21 ft 7 in (6.6 m) n/a
Empty weight: 23,050 lb (10,455 kg) 32,795 lb (14,876 kg)
Max. internal fuel: 10,860 lb (4,926 kg) 14,400 lb (6,531 kg)
Max. external load: 17,000 lb (7,710 kg) 17,750 lb (8,051 kg)
Max. T-O weight: 49,224 lb (22,328 kg) 66,000 lb (29,937 kg)
Max. level speed: Mach 1.8 same
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m) same
Combat radius
(fighter mission): 400 nm (740 km) 410 nm (760 km)
Combat radius
(attack mission): 575 nm (1,075 km) n/a

Costs
Fly-away cost for the F/A-18C/D
is approximately $28 million. Ac-
cording to DoD’s last (December
1994) F/A-18A/B/C/D Selected Ac-
quisition Report (SAR), the total cost
of a 1,026 aircraft F/A-18A/B/C/D
program was $13.966 billion in FY
1975 base year dollars or $36.783 bil-
lion in current year dollars. However,
our best information indicates a 1,043
unit program, including 11 proto-
types. The 1,026 unit SAR excludes
some of the prototypes, the six planes
added by Congress in FY 1997, and
the eight Thailand aircraft.
Malaysia paid $619.1 million for
its eight F/A-18C/Ds, including
spares. For a history of FMS funding,
see Funding History, below.
F/A-18E/F development costs are
estimated at $4.88 billion (FY 1992
dollars), but this was increased to
$5.6 billion in late 1997. Total E/F
program costs, for 515 aircraft (ex-
cluding the 85 EA-18Gs—see be-
low), are estimated at $48.091 billion
in current year dollars and $44.732
billion in FY 2000 base year dollars,
as given in the June 30, 2010 SAR.
Total AESA RDT&E program costs
are estimated at $525.2 million in cur-
rent year dollars and $494.8 million in
FY 2000 base year dollars, as given in

©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Page 6

the September 30 2005 SAR (the final
one for that effort).
EA-18G development costs are es-
timated at $1.5 billion. Total EA-18G
program costs, for 114 aircraft, are
estimated at $11.55 billion in current
year dollars and $10.052 billion in FY
2004 base year dollars, as given in the
June 30, 2010 SAR.
Unit Costs
Looking at FY 2011 budget data,
F/A-18E/F recurring flyaway cost
was $60.3 million, broken down as F/A-18E/F recurring unit fly-away
$40.2 million for the airframe/CFE, costs were estimated at $36.4 million,
$8.4 million for the engines and ac- assuming a full 1,000 unit buy. This
cessories, $6.2 million for CFE avi- rose to $47.4 million in FY 1998 dol-
onics, and $1.7 million for GFE lars, or $55.7 in then-year dollars.
avionics . Boeing’s objective is to bring this
The same year, EA-18GF recur- down to $40 million.
ring flyaway cost was $72.1 million,
broken down as $41.5 million for the
airframe/CFE, $8.3 million for the
engines and accessories, $18.8 mil-
lion for CFE avionics, and $1.5 mil-
lion for GFE avionics .

Recent annual unit procurement costs (then-year $)

FY02: $66.27 million (for each of 48 E/F aircraft)
FY01: $75.9 million (39 E/F aircraft)
FY00: $80.19 million (36 E/F aircraft)
FY99: $95.87 million (30 E/F aircraft)
FY98: $119.49 million (20 E/F aircraft)
FY97: $174.13 million (12 E/F aircraft)
FY96: $57.8 million (12 C/D aircraft)
FY95: $48.3 million (24 aircraft)
FY94: $44.5 million (36 aircraft)
FY93: $37.7 million (36 aircraft)
FY92: $51.1 million (48 aircraft)
FY91: $30.8 million (48 aircraft)
FY90: $29.7 million (66 aircraft)
FY89: $31.8 million (84 aircraft)
FY88: $29.3 million (84 aircraft)
FY87: $25.8 million (84 aircraft)
FY86: $32.2 million (84 aircraft)
FY84: $28.1 million (84 aircraft)

Sales/Deliveries Data
Deliveries
Through 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
F/A-18 (A-D*) 70 84 102 115 129 150 132 110 94 84 90

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
F/A-18 (A-D) 51 40 43 34 57 48 25 16 — — —
F/A-18E/F* — — 3 4 — 1 13 26 36 40 44
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total
F/A-18 (A-D) — — — — — — 1,474
F/A-18E/F/G 48 42 42 44 45 49 437
*Includes 11 A/BC/D and seven E/F prototypes.

Orderbook
User Version Ord./Del. Note

Australia AF/ATF-18A 75/75 73 built by ASTA

Australia F/A-18F 24/15
Canada CF-18A 114/114 delivered 1982-1988
Canada CF-18B 24/24 delivered 1982-1988
Finland F/A-18C 7/7 delivered 1995

December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing ©Teal Group Corporation
Page 7 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

Finland F/A-18D 57/57 assembled by Valmet

Spain C.15/CE.15 72/72 24 more used USN aircraft
Switzerland F/A-18C/D 34/34 -402 engine; eight Ds
Kuwait F/A-18C/D 40/40 -402 engine
Malaysia F/A-18D 8/8
USN/USMC F/A-18A/B* 421/421 delivered 1980-1987
USN/USMC F/A-18C/D* 622/622 funded through FY98; includes Thai
planes
USN F/A-18E/F* 491/452 funded through FY11; excludes 7 proto-
types
USN EA-18G* 88/24 funded through FY11

Total 2,053/1,941
*Includes 11 A/BC/D and seven E/F prototypes.

Contract Briefs
The following is a listing of con-
tract announcements made by the
Pentagon involving the award of, or
modification to, unclassified prime
Date Contract Number Agency
BAE Systems, Electronics, Intelligence & Support, Electronic Solutions
6/28/2010 N00019-10-C-0069 NAVAIR
contracts with a base value of $5 mil-
lion or more for a period of one year
prior to the date at the end of this re-
port.
Obligation Details
$30,954,068 FFP contract for the low-rate initial production Lot 6 for the Inte-
grated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures AN/ALE-55 sub-
systems for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.

BAE Systems, Information and Electronics Systems Integration

2/9/2010 N00383-10-D-027G NICP $31,215,444 FFP requirements performance-based logistics contract for sup-
port of the AN/ALQ-12B electronic countermeasures system used
in support of the F/A-18A-D and AV-8B aircraft.

Boeing, Defense, Space & Security - Boeing Military Aircraft

12/28/2009 N00019-10-C-0017
12/30/2009 N00383-07-G-005H
3/30/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
4/5/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
5/27/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
6/10/2010 N00383-06-D-004H
6/17/2010 N00019-04-C-0014
7/8/2010 N00019-10-C-0078
NAVAIR $54,119,479 Advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and effort as-
sociated with the full rate production and delivery of Lot 35 F/A-18
and E/A-18G aircraft.
NICP $12,420,974 CPFF contract for an option quantity, for 12 months of 2010 avion-
ics repair facility support, which provides for repair of various
F/A-18 components.
NAVAIR $6,395,328 FFP delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering
Agreement contract for 144 retrofit kits under the Engineering
Change Proposal 6240R1 for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NAVAIR $13,632,188 CPFF delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering
Agreement contract to complete the AESA waveform generator
DDS II die parts obsolescence redesign engineering change pro-
posal for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NAVAIR $6,376,999 FFP delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering
agreement contract for the procurement of 144 kits in support of
engineering change proposal #6282 for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NICP $40,010,030 FFP, sole-source, ID type contract for procurement of items sup-
porting the F/A-18 flight surfaces systems.
NAVAIR $25,000,000 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract to incorporate
engineering change proposal 6213R2SOW, "trailing edge flap
honeycomb redesign" into the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.
NAVAIR $43,322,994 CPFF contract for non-recurring engineering to integrate Mode 5
capability into the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G AN/APX-111 combined
interrogator transponder.

©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
7/26/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
8/31/2010 N68936-10-D-0058
9/3/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
9/23/2010 N00421-06-C-0075
9/24/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
9/24/2010 N00383-06-D-001J
9/28/2010 N00019-09-C-0019
9/28/2010 N00383-06-D-001J
11/22/2010 N00019-09-D-0010
12/3/2010 N00019-05-G-0026
Boeing, Integrated Defense Systems - Military Aircraft
12/2/2009 N00019-05-G-0026
12/4/2009 N00019-05-G-0026
12/8/2009 N00019-05-G-0026
12/15/2009 N00019-05-G-0026
12/16/2009 F33657-01-D-0026
DCS
10/20/2010 N68936-11-D-0001
DRS, Environmental Systems
9/3/2010 N68335-10-D-0027
DynCorp International
12/28/2009 N00019-06-C-0308
December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
Page 8
NAVAIR $11,475,605 FFP order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement
contract for the procurement of 889 Rover data link kits, 837 for the
Navy and 52 for the Royal Australian Air Force.
NAWC $19,121,714 ID/IQ contract to provide contractor engineering technical ser-
vices including on-site proficiency training, and providing technical
guidance.
NAVAIR $9,000,000 NTE delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering
Agreement contract for the procurement of 2,936 kits in support of
Engineering Change Proposal 1071, "Main Landing Gear Plan-
ning Mechanism failures" for the F/A-18 A-D aircraft.
NAWC $11,969,818 Modification to a previously awarded CPFF contract to exercise an
option for engineering, maintenance, and manufacturing labor in
support of F/A-18 flight test programs.
NAVAIR $27,968,834 FFP, delivery order against a previously issued order basic order-
ing agreement contract delivery order against a previously issued
order basic ordering agreement.
NAVAIR $21,640,534 FFP order against a previously awarded delivery order contract for
training/software integration support, provisioning and sustaining
engineering in support of F/A-18 A-D, E/F, and EA-18G aircraft.
NAVAIR $5,297,000,000 To convert to a FPIF multi-year contract for the procurement of 46
F/A-18E, 20 F/A-18F, and 58 EA-18G airframes for the Navy.
NICP $249,000,000 Delivery order #0010 under a previously awarded FFP, CPFF con-
tract for logistics support and associated materials for the
F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NAVAIR $7,625,501 Modification to a previously awarded CPFF, ID/IQ contract for
in-service support for F/A-18 aircraft of the governments of Swit-
zerland, Australia, Finland, Canada, Kuwait, Malaysia and Spain.
NAVAIR $16,944,000 Delivery order against a previously issued order basic ordering
agreement contract for supplies and services required to upgrade
39 F/A-18C/D aircraft for the government of Kuwait under the For-
eign Military Sales program.
NAVAIR $9,518,720 Order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement con-
tract for the necessary personnel, material and support to repair or
replace damaged components of Kuwait F/A-18 aircraft tail num-
ber 421.
NAVAIR $7,212,000 FFP order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement
contract for support of Navy F-18 aircraft.
NAVAIR $6,600,000 NTE order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement
contract for F/A-18 A-D Service Life Extension Program Phase B+
engineering support services.
NAVAIR $6,072,003 FFP delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering
agreement contract for the procurement of 35 SUU-78 centerline
pylons and 14 ALE-50 well covers in support of FY10 aircraft ar-
mament equipment production activities.
ASC $39,687,436 contract to provide the joint helmet mounted cueing systems Full
Rate Production 6 for the Air Force F-15 and F-16, the Navy
F/A-18 platforms, and FMS countries.
NAWC $200,419,995 CPFF, FFP, ID/IQ contract to provide weapons and systems inte-
gration support services to the NAWC-WD's integrated product
teams and their associated weapons.
NAWC $37,345,697 ID/IQ contract for the procurement of up to 60 shipboard and
land-based variant air conditioners.
©Teal Group Corporation
Page 9
General Dynamics, Advanced Information Systems
3/5/2010 N00019-10-C-0014
General Dynamics, Armament and Technical Products
5/22/2010 N00421-10-C-0024
General Electric, GE Aviation
12/4/2009 N00019-06-C-0088
2/16/2010 N00019-09-G-0009
3/11/2010 N00019-06-C-0088
6/10/2010 N00019-09-G-0009
7/28/2010 N00019-06-C-0088
8/19/2010 N00019-09-G-0009
9/24/2010 N00019-10-C-0076
Harris, Government Communications Systems Div.
2/25/2010 N00019-06-C-0087
Honeywell
6/23/2010 N00383-10-D-008D
Honeywell, Defense and Space Electronic Systems
9/23/2010 N00019-10-C-0061
ITT, ITT Electronic Systems
2/16/2010 N00019-05-C-0054
Marvin Engineering
3/10/2010 N00421-06-C-0050
Northrop Grumman, Aerospace Systems
8/6/2010 N00383-06-G-006B
©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
NAVAIR $16,902,377 Modification to a previously awarded CPFF contract to exercise an
option for maintenance services in support of the Kuwait Air Force
F/A-18 program under the FMS program.
NAVAIR $30,602,134 FFP contract for the full-rate production of 118 Type 3 advanced
mission computers for the F/A-18 and E/A-18G aircrafts.
NAWC $9,831,278 FFP, CPFF contract for the procurement of 30 M61A2 20mm light-
weight Gatling gun systems for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NAVAIR $28,096,373 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for engineering
and integrated logistics services in support of the F/A-18E/F
F414-GE-400.
NAVAIR $7,340,382 Modification to a previously issued order under basic ordering
agreement contract for the demonstration of new technologies,
with the goal of reducing the specific fuel consumption of the
F414-GE-400 engine by three percent.
NAVAIR $326,080,865 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract to exercise an
option for 80 F414-GE-400 engines and modules and two spare
engines for the Navy.
NAVAIR $8,897,278 Order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement con-
tract to provide engineering and engine system improvement ser-
vices in support of the F404 Component Improvement Program.
NAVAIR $28,202,039 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of six F414-GE-400 engines; four F414-GE-400 engine fan
modules; and 14 F414-GE-400 engine high pressure combustion
modules.
NAVAIR $6,309,149 Order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement con-
tract to provide engineering and engine system improvement ser-
vices in support of the F414 Component Improvement Program.
NAVAIR $21,499,025 FFP contract for the procurement of 241 FPU-12/A 480 gallon ex-
ternal fuel tanks for the F/A-18 E/F (136) and the EA-18G (105) air-
craft.
NAVAIR $7,160,530 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the full rate
production of 148 fiber channel network switches for the F/A-18
E/F, E/A-18G and E-2D aircrafts, and 4 mounting kits for the E-2D.
NICP $34,897,489 Ceiling-priced performance-based logistics contract for auxiliary
power units for the F/A-18, P-3, S-3, C-2, and KC-130 F/R; F404
main fuel controls used on the F/A-18 aircraft.
NAVAIR $10,645,531 FFP contract for the procurement of 185 advanced multi-purpose
displays for the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G aircraft.
NAVAIR $44,703,060 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the full rate
production Lot 7 of 17 AN/ALQ-214(V)2 on-board jammers, a
component of the F/A-18 E/F Integrated Defensive Electronic
Countermeasure.
NAWC $9,895,746 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for 324 produc-
tion BRU-32 B/A ejector bomb racks and three periodic production
samples for the F/A-18 E/F/G aircraft.
December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Page 10

NICP $5,865,828 Ceiling priced delivery order #0012 under previously awarded
contract for repairable support for advanced electronic attack
components of the EA-18G aircraft.

Northrop Grumman, Integrated Systems

5/4/2010 N00019-10-C-0052
9/22/2010 N00019-10-C-0052
NAVAIR $35,194,492 FFP contract for the procurement of 33 Center Barrels and loose
and miscellaneous parts for the F/A-18 A-D aircraft.
NAVAIR $35,580,508 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of 33 center barrels and loose and miscellaneous parts for
the F/A-18 A-D aircraft.

Northrop Grumman, Integrated Systems - Air Combat Systems

5/26/2010 N00383-06-G-032D DLA $11,220,000 FFP, sole-source contract for aircraft rudders in support of the
F-18 aircraft.

Parker Hannifin
8/30/2010 N00019-10-C-0074 NAVAIR $5,815,434 FFP contract for the procurement of Air Refueling Store A/A42R-1
Avionics System Upgrade performance-based contract that will be
used on the E/F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.

Raytheon, Electronic Systems

12/1/2009 N00019-05-G-0008 NAVAIR $12,738,186 Delivery order against a previously issued basic order agreement
contract for the procurement of 30 electronic modules for the
Royal Australian Air Force AF/A-18F aircraft under the Foreign
Military Sales program.

Raytheon, Integrated Defense Systems

9/2/2010 N00383-10-G-003D
12/8/2010 N00383-10-G-006D
NICP $9,800,000 Ceiling price order #0001 against a previously issued repair BOA
contract for the repair of 14 weapons replaceable assem-
blies/shop replaceable assemblies of the ATFLIR system used in
support of the F/A 18 aircraft.
NICP $48,900,000 Ceiling priced delivery order #0002 under previously awarded
contract for repair of the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking In-
frared (ATFLIR) system used in support of the F/A 18 aircraft.

Raytheon, Network Centric Systems

5/28/2010 N68936-10-D-0013 NAWC $8,694,337 CPFF, ID/IQ contract to provide performance-based engineering
services in support of the AN/ALQ-227 communication counter-
measure systems for the EA-18G.

Raytheon, Space & Airborne Systems

7/30/2010 N00019-05-G-0008
11/16/2010 N00019-09-C-0003
11/30/2010 N00383-10-G-005H
NAVAIR $12,254,749 FFP, CPFF delivery order against a previously issued basic order
agreement contract for the procurement of 30 ECP 6279 retrofit
kits to support the F/A-18 radio detection and ranging retrofit pro-
gram.
NAVAIR $52,250,000 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of 19 AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array
(AESA) radars to be retrofitted into F/A-18E/F aircraft Lots 26-29.
NICP $16,954,592 Ceiling priced order #0001 under a previously awarded contract
for repair of the AN/APG-79 radar in support of the F/A-18 aircraft.

Raytheon, Space and Airborne Systems

3/25/2010 N00019-09-C-0052
3/30/2010 N00019-06-C-0310
4/8/2010 N00019-05-G-0008
NAVAIR $89,489,433 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of 96 Lot 12 full-rate production AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warn-
ing receivers.
NAVAIR $6,223,862 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for integrated
logistics support of the advanced targeting/forward looking infra-
red pods for the F/A-18C/D and F/A-18E/F aircraft.
NAVAIR $5,792,324 CPFF delivery order against a previously issued Basic Order
Agreement contract for the procurement of two AN/APG-79 active,
electronically scanned array test radars to support the F/A-18 and
EA-18G programs.

6/17/2010 N00019-05-G-0008

December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing ©Teal Group Corporation
Page 11
NAVAIR
7/29/2010 N00383-10-D-007D NICP
9/9/2010 N00019-05-G-0008 NAVAIR
Raytheon, Technical Services
3/15/2010 N00019-05-G-0008 NAVAIR
3/30/2010 N00383-07-G-008D NICP
3/31/2010 N00019-05-G-0008 NAVAIR
Rockwell Collins
3/26/2010 N00019-09-C-0069 NAVAIR
5/10/2010 N00019-09-C-0069 NAVAIR
Sensor and Antenna Systems-Lansdale
4/22/2010 N00019-10-C-0047 NAVAIR
Sierra Nevada
2/16/2010 N00421-08-D-0032 NAWC
Wyle Laboratories
1/12/2010 N68936-10-D-0014 NAWC
Program Overview
Development History
Requirement Defined, Then
Cancelled
In a protracted process, the F/A-18
was developed to replace the
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk,
Vo u g h t A - 7 , a n d Mc D o n n e ll
Douglas/British Aerospace AV-8A in
both USN and USMC service. In
early 1974, the USN asked for and re-
ceived permission from DoD to so-
licit industry proposals for a new
©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
$9,045,214 FFP delivery order against a previously issued basic order agree-
ment contract for the procurement of 32 electro optical sensor unit
weapon replaceable assemblies.
$23,935,331 Performance-based logistics requirements contract for weapons
replaceable assemblies used in support of the F/A-18 A/B/E/F air-
craft.
$9,013,296 CPFF order against a previously issued basic order agreement
contract to procure a recurring effort to retrofit 26 operational test
program sets and 33 electro-optical sensor unit shop repairable
assembly test equipment units.
$18,853,530 FFP modification to a previously issued basic order agreement
contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 36
LAU-115D/A launchers and 82 LAU-116B/A launchers for the
F/A-18 aircraft.
$49,912,663 Delivery order #7130 under a Basic Ordering Agreement contract
to repair components for the AN/APG-65/73 radar systems used in
support of the F/A-18 aircraft.
$7,273,925 Modification to a previously issued basic order agreement con-
tract to exercise an option for the depot level rework of 142
LAU-115 guided missile launchers for the F/A-18 aircraft.
$5,944,064 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of 124 ARC-210 RT-1824(C)/ARC receiver transmitters for
the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.
$11,047,202 Modification to a previously awarded FFP contract for the procure-
ment of AN/ARC-210(V) electronic radios and ancillary equipment
for the EA-18G, F/A-18E/F, F-16 Block 40, and US European
Command aircraft.
$45,961,448 FFP contract for the manufacture and delivery of 60 full rate pro-
duction III (FRP III) AN/ALQ-99 low band transmitters for the
EA-6B and EA-18G aircraft.
$5,698,440 Modification to a previously awarded FFP, ID/IQ contract for 60
AN/APN-245 radio beacon sets in support of the AN/SON46 auto-
matic carrier landing system capability and the F/A-18-E/F/G se-
ries aircraft.
$10,803,500 CPFF, ID/IQ contract to provide airborne electronic attack engi-
neering support for the EA-6B, EA-18G, and other advanced elec-
tronic attack derivatives.
low-cost, lightweight, multi-mission gram, which eventually led to a GD
fighter. This program was known as victory with the F-16.
VFAX.
McDonnell Enters Picture,
By the end of that year, after heavy
Wins With Northrop
industry response, the program was
McDonnell Douglas entered the
cancelled. The USN was instead di-
VFAX and F/A-18 picture when it
rected to examine derivatives of the
aligned itself with Northrop and its
General Dynamics YF-16 and the
VF-17 proposal. That choice by
Northrop YF-17, both competing in
McDonnell Douglas was a good one,
the USAF’s Lightweight Fighter Pro-
because in 1976, the USN chose the
December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
McDonnell Douglas/Northrop VF-17
variant over the VF-16 with General
Dynamics, as well as Vought which
had joined GD. With the choice of the
McDonnell/Northrop design came a
redesignation of the program to
NACF for Navy Air Combat Fighter
and of the aircraft from YF-17 Deriv-
ative to F-18. The original aircraft
proposal also went through some
change, with wing area added, an ex-
tension of the nose section, a widen-
ing of the fuselage, more engine
thrust, and strengthening of the un-
dercarriage.
F-18 Becomes F/A-18
The F-18 proposal was at first ac-
tually a two-single-seat-aircraft de-
sign. The F-18 would be used for
strike missions while the A-18 would
be used for attack operations. Be-
cause of the high degree of common-
alty between the two aircraft except
for mission specific equipment, the
two were merged into the current de-
sign, the F/A-18.
McDonnell Becomes Prime
McDonnell Douglas became the
prime contractor for the program, as-
suming a 70% share of development
while Northrop (now Northrop
Grumman) became the principal sub-
contractor, the company’s 30% share
covered center and aft fuselage sec-
tions. The share breakdown for pro-
duction is changed to 60/40. A
two-seat operational training version,
the F/A-18B, also was developed.
First Flights, Deliveries
The first flight of the F/A-18 was
made on November 18, 1978, and at
the start of 1980, all 11 RDT&E air-
craft were flying. First delivery of the
F/A-18 to the USN was made in May
1980. The F/A-18A/B was manufac-
tured until 1987 when production was
switched to the F/A-18C/D versions
(see description below). The
F/A-18C flew for the first time on
September 3, 1987. The F/A-18 Night
Attack version (see description be-
low) flew for the first time on May 6,
1988.
December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
F/A-18C/D
Funding for the C/D model began
in the FY86 budget. This latest ver-
sion features a number of improve-
ments over the previous, initial
version. The F/A-18C/D is equipped
to carry u p to six A MRA A M
(AIM-120) missiles and up to four IR
Maverick (AGM-65) missiles. Provi-
sion also is made for the integration of
the AN/ALQ-165 ASPJ (Advanced
Self-Protection Jammer) system and
also reconnaissance equipment. The
stores management set has been im-
proved with upgraded computer
hardware and memory capacity, and
finally, a new mission computer and
new flight incident recorder and mon-
itoring set (FIRAMS) have been
added.
While the C/D first came with the
APG-65 radar, aircraft after 1993 are
built with the improved APG-73. The
first APG-73-fitted Hornets were de-
livered to the Navy in May 1994. As
of March 2003, a total of 46 Marine
C/Ds will receive the –73 radar.
F/A-18 Night Attack
Starting with the F/A-18C/Ds de-
livered to the USN and USMC in
FY90, the aircraft incorporates a
night attack capability. New systems
include a digital multi-purpose color
map display, a FLIR (Forward-Look-
ing Infra-Red) navigation system,
FLIR video, a rasterized HUD
(Head-Up Display), and a cockpit
lighting system compatible with night
vision goggles. Specific to the
two-seat F/A-18D version is a
missionized aft cockpit and inde-
pendent cockpit display capability.
Hornet 2000
Under studies commissioned by
DoD in 1987, McDonnell Douglas
studied four possible upgrade pack-
ages for the current F/A-18 under the
project name of Hornet 2000. The
first, Configuration 1, included an
uprated F404; integrated communica-
tions, navigation, and IFF; an active
array antenna for the APG-65; weap-
ons systems improvements; and new
cockpit displays. Configuration 2
Page 12
added missile detection, laser warn-
ing, and C3 receiver systems; a stiffer
wing; further engine upgrades; and a
dorsal fuel tank for added range. Con-
figuration 3 involves the above modi-
fications, plus a new wing that is 25%
larger in area; a larger dorsal tank; and
bigger tailplanes. The intermediate
Configuration 3A had a taller tail, but
with additional fuel carried in a fuse-
lage plug, rather than a dorsal tank.
The most ambitious, Configuration 4,
showed an entirely new cranked-ar-
row wing, forward canards, a fuse-
lage plug with added fuel capacity, as
well as the electronics and
powerplant upgrades listed above.
While Hornet 2000 was aban-
doned, these studies led to the current
F/A-18E/F design (see below).
Recce Version
In Fall 1982, the Navy began as-
sessment of a reconnaissance version
of the F/A-18. First flight of an air-
craft with a twin-sensor package in-
stead of a gun was made on August
15, 1984. The recce version for the
Marine Corps uses the Advanced
Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance
System (ATARS). In February 1992
the first of 48 of these aircraft was
presented to the Marines. ATARS was
cancelled in June 1993, but the Ma-
rines are using ATARS components
for 31 F/A-18D recon models.
C/D Production Fades Out
As F/A-18E/F development fund-
ing arrived, C/D production was cut
to save money. The FY 1994 plan
called for procurement of 36 in FY
1995 and 1996, and 12 in FY 1997.
This has been cut. While Congress
approved $1.49 billion for 36 C/Ds in
FY 1994, it refused to allow a
multi-year procurement (MYP) pro-
gram, and only appropriated funding
for 24 in FY 1995. Money for 18 was
appropriated in FY 1996, but DoD re-
quested none in FY 1997. Congress
added six that year, plus funds for the
eight Thai planes in FY 1998, so US
C/D procurement ended at 635 air-
craft.
©Teal Group Corporation
Page 13
Export Status/Foreign Production
Australia
The Royal Australian Air Force
announced its plan to buy 75 Hornets
to replace its Dassault Mirage III-Os
on October 20, 1981. The first two
aircraft, two-seat versions delivered
May 1 7 , 1 9 8 5 , w e r e b u ilt b y
McDonnell Douglas/Northrop. The
remaining aircraft, beginning in May
1985, were assembled by Aerospace
Technologies of Australia (ASTA) at
the firm’s Avalon plant. The last air-
craft was delivered in May 1990.
In early 1991 the RAAF an-
nounced an upgrade program for its
73 Hornets in inventory. The program
involves structural and avionics mod-
ifications, bringing the aircraft to
“C/D Minus” configuration. In 1995,
the RAAF announced its HUG (Hor-
net Upgrade) program, which will
bring the fleet up to late model C/D
standard, including an APG-65 radar
upgrade. The first phase of HUG is
being implemented between 2000
and 2002, and the first completed air-
craft was delivered in late 2000.
Also, Hughes delivered two
APG-73 radars to Australia in July
1997, and the RAAF signed a contract
in March 2000 to upgrade the rest of
its fleet. This is the second phase of
HUG, which also includes a MIDS
datalink and a new EW system. The
last of 71 Hornets with APG-73 ra-
dars was re-delivered to the RAAF in
August 2003.
In July 2002, Australia initiated
HUG Phase Three, which was fully
approved in December 2003. This in-
volves a structural refurbishment pro-
gram, with Boeing Australia and
BAE Systems acting as contractor.
The firms are replacing the airframe
center barrel (on some aircraft) and
other components. Total value of
Phase Three is estimated at $230 mil-
lion.
Also, in September 2005 Austalia
ordered 37 Litening AT targetting
pods. Australia plans to keep its Hor-
nets in service until 2018-2020.
©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
Canada
On April 10, 1980, the Canadian
government announced its intention
to buy 138 Hornets to replace aging
CF-101, CF-104, and CF-5 aircraft.
Deliveries began on October 25 1982,
and continued through September
1988. The Canadian version of the
aircraft, designated CF-18A/B, has a
different instrument landing system,
as well as an additional spotlight on
the port side of the aircraft and a pro-
vision for carrying LAU-5003 rocket
pods, compared to US models.
In late 1998, Canada launched a
10-year life-extension program for its
Hornet fleet. Of the 122 surviving
planes, 22 or more will be sold, to
help pay for the remainder to stay in
service through 2017. The program
will be worth $780 million, and in-
cludes new XN-8 mission computers
and software, color displays, jam-re-
sistant radios, and possibly new
APG-73 radars. The upgraded planes
will effectively be F/A-18C/D stan-
dard, with AMRAAM capability. The
Canadian Air Force is also overhaul-
ing fuselage bulkheads due to crack-
ing.
In April 2001, Canada awarded
Boeing a $436 million contract to ini-
tiate the new upgrade. Work on the
first two of 80 planes began in late
2002, with the first upgraded plane
delivered in May 2003. The installa-
tion work was performed by Bombar-
dier (now L-3 Communications).
This phase was completed in August
2006.
In 2004 Canada announced an-
other upgrade. Part of this is the Ad-
v an ced Mu lti-Ro le IR Sen so r
(AMIRS) program. This adds an ad-
vanced targeting system (Lockheed
Martin’s Sniper). Other upgrade work
adds new displays and new EW
equipment. This will be worth C$ 200
million ($155 million). L-3 delivered
the first upgraded plane in August
2007.
Switzerland
In October 1988, Switzerland
chose the F/A-18C/D to replace its
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
Mirage IIISs operating in a high-alti-
tude interceptor role. This was later
re-competed against the Mirage
2000-5, and others. But in June 1991
the Swiss Federal Council submitted
an acquisition bill to Parliament,
which approved it in March 1992.
The Swiss are buying 26 Cs and eight
Ds, with the F404-GE-402 upgraded
engine.
McDonnell built two aircraft, de-
livered in late 1996 and mid 1997.
The remaining 32 are being built by
Swiss Aircraft and Systems (now
RUAG Aerospace), with the first
Swiss-built plane flying in October
1996. The last was delivered in De-
cember 1999.
In August 2001 Switzerland an-
nounced the first C/D export upgrade
program. The Upgrade 21 program
will add six engineering change pro-
posals designed for USN aircraft, in-
cluding provision for MIDS, a new
digital map, BAE’s APX-111 IFF, and
other features. Work began in mid
2004.
Upgrade 21 Phase Two started in
January 2006, with aircraft re-deliv-
ery starting in January 2007 and run-
ning though 2009. Phase Two
includes JHMCS, AIM-9X, and other
features.
Spain
The Spanish air force ordered 72
F/A-18A/Bs (to be designated
C.15/CE.15) in May 1983. The air-
craft were delivered between Novem-
ber 22, 1985, and the end of 1990. In
October 1995 Spain placed an attri-
tion buy for 24 used US Navy Hor-
nets, with 51 new F404-GE-400
engines. The first of these were deliv-
ered in early 1996.
Spain is adding reconnaissance
pods to some of its fleet. It is also fit-
ting 66 planes with a Mid-Life Up-
date package, with the first aircraft
re-delivered in February 2005.
Kuwait
Kuwait selected the F/A-18 to re-
place its A-4KU Skyhawks. Despite
the war, deliveries of the 40 aircraft
December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
began in 1992. Kuwaiti Hornets are
equipped with the F404-GE-402
EPE. The contract for 40 F/A-18s was
valued at $1.6 billion.
South Korea: The Hornet Buy
That Wasn’t
The F/A-18 was originally se-
lected for the Korean Fighter Pro-
gram (KFP, once known as the FX).
South Korea was to acquire 120 Hor-
nets, valued at about $4 billion.
Samsung Aerospace Industries
would have coproduced the aircraft.
In March 1991 the Republic of Korea
cancelled the F/A-18 purchase, and
decided to buy F-16s instead.
Finland Selects F/A-18 For DX
In early May 1992 Finland chose
the F/A-18 for its DX fighter compe-
tition. Finland selected the F/A-18 af-
ter a competition with the F-16,
Gripen, Mirage 2000-5, and MiG-29.
Under the terms of the $3 billion pro-
gram, McDonnell delivered seven
F/A-18D trainers, the first four arriv-
ing in November 1995. Finland’s
Valmet Aviation then assembled 57
F/A-18Cs from kits, supplied by
F/A-18E/F: Super Hornet
Origins
Th e F /A -1 8 ’s p o s itio n w as
strengthened by the A-12, NATF,
F-14, and F-14D remanufacturing
program terminations. In early 1991
DoD announced plans to procure
1,000 units of a new version of the
Hornet, the F/A-18E/F.
The F/A-18E/F, an outgrowth of
the abandoned Hornet 2000 concept
(see above), has 90% avionics and
software commonality with the
F/A-18C/D, but is 25% larger. It in-
corporates radar, avionics and weap-
ons upgrades planned for the
F/A-18C/D and features more power-
ful F414 engines, new materials, and
greater fuel and weapons stores ca-
pacity. This allows it to take over a
greater share of the carrier attack role.
The larger wings are also thicker, in-
creasing the outer pylons’ usefulness
(sweepback was increased to counter
the resulting increase in drag). It also
has greater bring-back capabil-
December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
McDonnell. The last plane was deliv-
ered in August 2000. Finland also
built one "Franken Hornet," using
parts salvaged from a damaged C
model and a surplus Canadian B
model. This aircraft crashed in Janu-
ary 2010.
In early 2004 Finland began an
MLU , a d d in g a J o in t H e l-
met- Mo u n te d Cu e in g S ys te m,
APX-111 IFF, and software updates.
Upgraded planes will be re-delivered
starting in April 2007. A second MLU
(MLU2) is scheduled to begin in
2012-2014. This will extend service
life to 2025 or 2030. This will include
the acquisition of at least ten Litening
pods.
Malaysia and Thailand Each
Buy Eight; Thailand Cancels
In June 1993, Malaysia announced
its long-awaited fighter buy. The
country purchased eight F/A-18Ds,
as well as 18 MiG-29s (see report).
Cost was given as $619.1 million, in-
cluding spares. These were delivered
in mid 1997.
ity—the A/C models needed to jetti-
son unused weapons before landing
in some circumstances.
In addition to its increased strike
capacity, the E/F will also be used to
supplement the F-14 in the carrier
group outer air battle role. The E/F
can also act as an aerial refueling
tanker.
Plans
The Navy requested $435 million
in FY92 to begin full-scale develop-
ment. An FY97 first production buy is
planned, with a first development air-
craft flight in late 1995. First deliver-
ies are scheduled for late 1998.
Development cost was estimated at
$4.88 billion.
DAB Approves F/A-18 E/F De-
velopment
In early May 1992 the Defense Ac-
quisition Board (DAB) approved the
N a v y’s p la n to d e v e lo p th e
F/A-18E/F. Navy estimates of the
Page 14
In May 1996, Thailand followed
Malaysia’s lead, ordering four
F/A-18Cs and four Ds. The aircraft
were to be delivered, along with Har-
poon missiles, in 1999. But in late
1997 the country announced that its
economic crisis forced it to delay tak-
ing delivery of the aircraft until 2003.
This was later changed to an outright
cancellation, and the USMC took the
eight aircraft instead, with the US
Government paying for them as for-
eign aid. This funding was provided
in FY 1998 (see below).
Australia Is First E/F Export
Customer
In March 2007 Australia ordered
24 F/A-18F Block 2s. Twelve of these
are convertible into EA-18G configu-
ration. The first aircraft was rolled out
in July 2009 and delivered to the
RAAF just afterwards. The Super
Hornets will replace the country’s
legendary F-111 fleet. Total program
cost is estimated at AUD 6 billion
($4.6 billion) over ten years.
E/F’s range and payload were vali-
dated by an independent panel at the
end of April 1992. The panel, con-
vened by DoD in March, confirmed
that the E/F model would have 28%
greater range than current models of
the F/A-18. At least one DoD analyst
challenged this, but his methodology
was termed “flawed.”
F/A-18E/F Development Con-
tracts Awarded; Congress Au-
thorizes FY93 Funding
O n J u ly 2 1 , 1 9 9 2 N AVA I R
awarded two contracts to start the
F/A-18E/F development program.
McDonnell Douglas received $97.3
million from a $3.964 billion letter
contract to develop the airframe. Gen-
eral Electric received $94 million
from a $754.1 million letter contract
to develop the YF414-GE-400 en-
gine. GE will complete work on its
c o n tr a c t in S e p te mb e r 1 9 9 8 .
McDonnell will complete its work in
©Teal Group Corporation
Page 15
June 1999. This contract was
definitized in December 1992. It
called for production of seven flight
test aircraft, including five single-seat
F /A - 1 8 E s an d tw o d u a l- s e a t
F/A-18Fs. There are also three
ground test aircraft.
In October 1992 Congress’s FY
1993 Authorization Bill provided
$944 million for F/A-18E/F research
funding. This was down from the $1.1
billion requested by DoD. But the E/F
program got the support it needed to
go ahead.
Earlier in the year, the House
Armed Services Committee (HASC)
slashed F/A-18E/F funding to $535
million. HASC also required the
Navy to build two F/A-18E/F proto-
types before procurement starts. The
Navy responded to this, saying the
prototypes were unnecessary because
the E/F was only a derivative of the
F/A-18C/D. The prototype mandate
was approved by Congress, but in
April 1993 the Defense Science
Board called the E/F a low-risk pro-
gram, which did not require a proto-
type.
In June 1994 the E/F passed its
Critical Design Review (CDR). GE’s
F414 passed its CDR in March. As-
semb ly o f th e E/F b eg an at
McDonnell in September 1994.
There were seven flight test aircraft,
plus three ground test aircraft.
It’s Here, But In Smaller Num-
bers
In September 1995 McDonnell
rolled out its first F/A-18E, on time
and within the development budget.
The aircraft was also within specified
weight limits. On November 29,
1995, the Hornet E made its first
flight. The second aircraft, F/A-18E2,
began flight tests in early January
1996. The Navy took delivery of the
first E in February 1996. Three more
F/A-18Es and two F/A-18Fs were de-
livered for flight testing by December
1996. The last of seven E/F test planes
was delivered in February 1997.
DoD gave the E/F LRIP approval
in March 1997, and the E/F entered
production in September 1997. The
©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing
L RI P c o mp o n e n t in c lu d e s 6 2
planes—32 Fs and 30 Es. In May
1997, DoD’s Quadrennial Defense
Review cut the planned E/F buy to
548 aircraft. Of these, over 400 will
be two-seat F models. In 2005, an-
other four planes were added, for a to-
tal of 90 EA-18Gs (see below) and
462 baseline E/Fs. By late 2007, this
was changed to 494 E/Fs and 80
EA-18Gs.
The first production F/A-18E was
delivered ahead of schedule, in De-
cember 1998. A full-rate production
contract was awarded in June 2000,
and the first MYP contract covers 222
(in addition to the 62 LRIP planes).
IOC was achieved in 2001. The E/F
was cleared for international sales in
August 2001.
In late 2003 DoD awarded a sec-
ond MYP, covering an additional 210
E/Fs worth $6.6 billion. Deliveries
will run through 2009.
Future E/F Developments
The early E/F production models
have largely C/D avionics and sys-
tems. Later production models of the
E/F are scheduled to receive the Joint
Helmet Mounted Cueing System, IR
search and track system, an advanced
mission computer, IDECM, a digital
map computer with terrain reference
navigation, and a combined interro-
gator transponder.
Future versions of the E/F could
incorporate low-observable technol-
ogies, and the plane may get a new en-
gine—either an improved F414 or
Pratt & Whitney’s PW7000. Devel-
opment of the latter engine has been
suspended.
Block 2/AESA Radar/IRST
The Block 2 program adds an ac-
tive electronically-scanned array
(AESA) radar antenna, using the
APG-73 as a starting point. In No-
vember 1999 Boeing selected
Raytheon for this job, and both com-
panies funded the initial development
phase for the radar, now known as the
APG-79. Total F/A-18E/F/G AESA
radar development costs are esti-
mated at $500 million. Retrofit costs
are estimated at $3 million per plane,
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
including $2.5 million for the radar it-
self. The first production APG-79
was delivered in January 2005.
Deliveries with AESA began in
2006, and current plans call for 278
new-build E/F/Gs with AESA, but
with another 133 AESA retrofits. By
mid 2009, Raytheon had delivered
134 AESA radars.
In addition to AESA, aircraft pro-
duced after the 137th aircraft also
have an enhanced forward fuselage
(EFF).
In mid 2007 the Navy announced
that the Super Hornet would get an in-
frared search and track (IRST) pod. In
July 2007, Lockheed Martin was se-
lected for this $500 million program,
with the first contract awarded in May
2009. Development costs are esti-
mated at $158 million, with $2.5 mil-
lion per pod for production and
installation. Some 150 pods will be
deployed on Block 2 aircraft starting
in FY 2012. IRST will also be part of
the Block 3 upgrade.
EA-18G Growler
The Navy is also procuring an
F/A-18E/FC2W model, also called
the F/A-18G, or EA-18G, or Growler,
to serve as an electronic warfare
jammer/SEAD replacement for the
cancelled EA-6B ADVCAP program.
This uses the ALQ-99 system from
the EA-6B ICAP-3, carried on an F
model Hornet. It will also use the
AESA radar for broadband noise jam-
ming, and would have a Wild Weasel
capability to attack non-emitting tar-
gets. Specifically, it will be able to use
its AN/ALQ-218 receiver (formerly
LR-700) to cue its APG-79 AESA ra-
dar to strike ground targets. It will
carry two AGM-88 HARM missiles.
EA-18G development costs are es-
timated at $1.5 billion. Procurement
of 90 EA-18Gs is expected to cost $7
billion.
Current plans, as of 2007, call for
80 EA-18Gs (out of the 574 plane to-
tal). After a certain point in the line,
all F models will be built with provi-
sions necessary for G modification.
Funding for SDD (comprising six air-
craft) began in FY 2004, with LRIP
December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Page 16

production approval given in July
2007.
The first prototype Growler (the
first of two converted production
F/A-18Fs) flew in August 2006 and
was delivered to the Navy in October.
The first new Growler was delivered
to the Navy in June 2008, with IOC
scheduled for 2009. Full-rate produc-
tion approval was granted in Novem- have a low radar signature and be su-
ber 2009. personic-capable.
The last of 85 production Growl-
Another MYP
ers was to be delivered in 2013, but
In September 2010 the USN an-
the latest MYP (see below) has
nounced a four-year MYP extending
changed this.
the life of the Super Hornet/Growler
In the future, the Growler could re-
procurement program. The new ob-
ceive a new jamming pod. This would
jectives are 515 E/Fs and 114 Gs.

Funding History
RDT&E ($ mns) FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11*
PE# 0204136N F/A-18 Squadrons
252.9 204.1 164.0 121.4 83.5 36.9 43.0 70.8 121.1 148.4
PE# 0604269N EA-18
— — — 346.5 379.7 361.0 269.4 118.7 57.1 22.0
Procurement ($ mns) FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11*
Navy Aircraft Procurement (APN) BA 1: Combat Aircraft
F/A-18E/F Hornet 3,012.2 3,111.5 2,959.9 2,874.4 2,668.2 2,684.5 2,716.2 1,812.1 1,409.9 1,784.9
(quantity) (48) (45) (42) (42) (38) (37) (37) (23) (18) (22)
advance procurement 88.1 85.1 84.0 83.4 103.5 52.6 46.5 42.5 51.3 2.3
EA-18G — — — — 325.4 696.1 1,474.6 1,567.0 1,606.9 1,028.8
(quantity) — — — — (4) (9) (21) (22) (22) (12)
EA-18G adv. proc. — — — 8.2 26.5 39.8 50.8 46.7 20.5 55.1
Navy Aircraft Procurement (APN) BA 5: Modification of Aircraft
F-18 Series 317.7 271.1 219.8 385.7 373.0 461.8 514.4 464.3 527.6 536.1
FMS ($ millions) FY87 FY88 FY89 FY90 FY91 FY92 FY93 FY94 FY95 FY96
Foreign Procurement Funding via FMS
Fighter Aircraft F-18A# 3,995.6 1,185.2 — — 64.7 — — — 95.2 —
(quantity)# (147) (40) — — — — — — (24) —
Fighter Aircraft F-18C — — — — — 2,229.2 1,094.8 — 26.1 —
(quantity)# — — — — — (64) (34) — — —
Fighter Aircraft F-18D — — — — — — — 342.5 — 281.0
(quantity)# — — — — — — — (8) — (8)
*Request.
#Through FY87.

Teal Group Evaluation

Navair’s Zen-Like Stability
Gets Complicated
Some years ago, Navair was in
grim shape. The failure of A-12 and
NATF led to a decision to play it safe.
This plane was the result.
But the F/A-18E/F was not what
you would call a model development
program. The wing problems were se-
rious, and just before deliveries began
the fleet was temporarily grounded
due to engine troubles. Also, this is a
derivative plane, offering little more
than what was called for in the origi-
nal F/A-18A/B specifications.
None of that matters now. The
Navy stood by its plane, in the face of
moderate and g enerally
unthreatening congressional opposi-
tion. Full-rate production and MYP
contracts were awarded, and the pro-
duction program is now a model of ef-
ficiency. McAir, now Boeing,
redeemed its tactical aircraft reputa-
tion, sullied by the A-12 disaster. It
has also made some nice money.
And, again, it’s not like the naval
aviation folks had any choice. The fu-
ture of naval aviation needed salva-
tion, in a generic, multi-role kind of
way. An all-E/F fleet isn't as effective
as a two-plane solution (F-14 and
A-6), but it serves as a multi-role
“deck filler,” ensuring that the Navy
has enough new combat aircraft to
keep its carrier force in business. In
addition to the F-14 and A-6, it has
also replaced the S-3, KA-6, and
EA-6. Despite the loss of specializa-
tion associated with these planes, the
Super Hornet does these jobs very
well. It’s the plane that saved Navair.
But competition has been re-intro-
duced to the market. JSF has pro-
duced a near-concrete plane with a

December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing ©Teal Group Corporation
Page 17 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet

reasonably secure future. And while
the F-35 looks like an “Air Force
plane,” it might have its charms—if
the Afghanistan conflict had been
only slightly different, stealth would
have been very useful indeed. The
Navy seems to be rethinking its ear-
lier decision to forego low-observ-
able technology.
Now some good news for the E/F.
The new Hornet version remains
quite attractive to the Navy—with the
E/F, the USN gets a new EW system,
which doesn’t fit on a C/D. The E/F
also has “affordable” (frontal only)
stealth. Best of all, it has an AESA ra-
dar, which (the Navy says) requires
the E/Fs cooling and electrical power.
All major E/F improvements, includ-
ing an IRST system, have funding in
the pipeline.
Also, the F-35C competitor has
had a positive effect on the E/F pro-
gram. Boeing, seeing the writing on
its JSF tombstone, began making ma-
jor improvements in the E/F even be-
fo re th ey o fficially lo st JSF.
Producibility improvements have re-
sulted in a $50 million E/F with
AESA. This is a great price, and it
may keep the Navy from becoming an
enthusiastic F-35 convert. Boeing is
doing a very good job at messaging.
They're mooting a notional "Sixth
Generation" plane for the future,
while promoting the current "4.75
Generation" Super Hornet until the
notional plane arrives. That's a good
way to squeeze the F-35C out of the
picture.
The upshot: Navair’s path forward
is a lot easier than the Air Force’s.
They'll look at their options, which in-
clude more Super Hornets, faster
F-35C acquisition, and a SLEP/center
barrel replacement program for a few
hundred C/Ds. Variables include ad-
ditional F-35 delays, a conclusive as-
sessment of the C/D fleet, and of
course funding availability.
Right now, it looks like the F-35C
is winning. The program has its prob-
lems, but the Navy is sticking with it.
On the other hand, the recent MYP is
a nice boost for the Super Hornet,
boosting the total to 515, plus 114
Growlers. It could easily go higher.
And a major upgrade for at least 150
C/Ds is certain too.
Exports
As for E/F exports, the Australian
order was a nice endorsement. After
that, it's complicated. Switzerland
looked great, but then Boeing decided
to not bid, possibly for good reason.
Brazil looked great, but high-level
political intervention seems to have
swung the contract to the Rafale (al-
though as this is written nothing is
firm). Malaysia seems less likely than
ever. Kuwait is possible, but they too
are looking closely at Rafale.
That leaves the biggest and best
prospect, India. There are many rea-
sons why the Super Hornet has the
best chance for this enormous
(126-186 aircraft) competition;
AESA maturity, strategic relationship
with the US, carrier suitability, Boe-
ing/GE commercial offset work, and
others. But India's weapons procure-
ment works in strange ways, and there
are five other bidders. So while this
prospect is very bright, it's nothing
Boeing can take to the bank.
In all, right now, we can’t forecast
anything concrete beyond the 24 Aus-
tralian planes. See Teal's Fighter/At-
tack market overview for full details
of the Super Hornet's addressable ex-
port market.

Funding Forecast
RDT&E (FY11$ mns) FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20
PE# 0204136N F/A-18 Squadrons
148.4 115.0 72.0 62.0 40.0 50.0 65.0 120.0 170.0 200.0
PE# 0604269N EA-18
22.0 24.0 28.0 30.0 45.0 50.0 75.0 100.0 120.0 155.0
Procurement (FY11$ mns) FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20
Navy Aircraft Procurement (APN) BA 1: Combat Aircraft
F/A-18E/F 1,028.8 2,355.9 — — — — — — — —
(quantity) (12) (24) — — — — — — — —
advance procurement 55.1 — — — — — — — — —
EA-18G 1,784.9 486.8 2,247.0 — — — — — — —
(quantity) (22) (1) (25) — — — — — — —
advance procurement 2.3 59.0 — — — — — — — —
Navy Aircraft Procurement (APN) BA 5: Modification of Aircraft
F-18 Series 536.1 550.0 540.0 480.0 485.0 540.0 560.0 590.0 650.0 610.0

©Teal Group Corporation World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing December 2010
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet Page 18

Production Forecast
User (Variant) Through 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Total
Boeing
Australia (AF-18B) 2 — — — — — — — — — — 2
Australia (F/A-18F) 3 12 9 — — — — — — — — 24
Canada (CF-18A/B) 138 — — — — — — — — — — 138
Finland (F-18D) 7 — — — — — — — — — — 7
Kuwait (KAF-18C/D) 40 — — — — — — — — — — 40
Malaysia (F/A-18D) 8 — — — — — — — — — — 8
Switzerland (F/A-18C/D) 2 — — — — — — — — — — 2
Spain (C.15/CE.15) 72 — — — — — — — — — — 72
USN/USMC (F/A-18A/B)* 421 — — — — — — — — — — 421
USN/USMC (F/A-18C/D) 622 — — — — — — — — — — 622
USN (F/A-18E/F)** 418 26 21 18 12 20 — — — — — 515
USN (EA-18G) 16 12 18 22 20 4 22 — — — — 114
Subtotal 1,749 50 48 40 32 24 22 — — — — 1,965

Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA)

RAAF (AF/ATF-18A) 73 — — — — — — — — — — 73

Swiss Aircraft And Systems

Switzerland (F/A-18C/D) 32 — — — — — — — — — — 32

Valmet Aviation
Finland (F-18C) 57 — — — — — — — — — — 57

Total F/A-18 1,911 50 48 40 32 24 22 — — — — 2,127

*Total excludes 11 A/B/C/D development aircraft, seven E/F flight test aircraft; EA-18G forecast excludes two con-
verted F models.

December 2010 World Military & Civil Aircraft Briefing ©Teal Group Corporation