Military Aircraft Forecast

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Outlook
 U.S. Navy's requirement for Super Hornet fighters likely
to increase, extending production into the 2020s
 Kuwait finalized an order for 28 aircraft in March 2018,
boosting production in the medium term
 Production of the Growler electronic warfare variant to
wrap up in 2018 barring a new order

Orientation
Description. Twin-engine, single- and twin-seat,
land- and sea-based, multirole fighter/attack aircraft.
Sponsor. U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command,
Washington, DC.
Status. F/A-18E/F and EA-18G in production.
Total Produced. Approximately 587 F/A-18E/Fs
produced through 2017, excluding seven flight test
aircraft. Boeing produced approximately 164 E/A-18G
Growlers through 2017, including two test aircraft.
Application. Carrier- and land-based strike fighter /
interceptor and electronic warfare.
Price Range. Flyaway unit cost: F/A-18E/F,
$68.6 million (FY19); EA-18G, estimated at
$86.9 million.

Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet

Source: U.S. Navy

©2018 June 2018

Page 2
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Prime
Boeing Defense, Space &
Security
Subcontractor
BAE Systems Inc, Electronic
Systems (HQ)
Concorde Battery Corp
Curtiss-Wright Corp
ELDEC Power Conversion
Division
Eaton Aerospace, Fuel & Motion
Control Systems Division
Energy Container Corp (ECC)
GE Aviation
GE Aviation Systems, Avionics
GKN Aerospace Transparency
Systems Inc
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)
Honeywell Aerospace
Honeywell Aerospace, Engines,
Systems & Services
L3 Technologies - Electronic
Systems Inc
Leonardo MW Ltd
Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire
Control - Orlando
Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd
Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems
Moog Inc
June 2018
Military Aircraft Forecast
Contractors
http://www.boeing.com/defense/, PO Box 516, St Louis, MO 63166 United States,
Tel: + 1 (314) 232-0232, Fax: + 1 (314) 777-1096, Prime
http://www.baesystems.com, 65 Spit Brook Rd, Nashua, NH 03060 United States,
Tel: + 1 (603) 885-4321, Fax: + 1 (603) 885-2772 (ALQ-126 Deception ECM; Graphic
Display System for Weapons Tactic Strainer)
2009 San Bernardino Rd, West Covina, CA 91790 United States,
Tel: + 1 (626) 813-1234, Fax: + 1 (626) 813-1235 (OEM Battery)
http://www.curtisswright.com, 13925 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Ste 400, Charlotte,
NC 28277 United States, Tel: + 1 (704) 869-4600, Fax: + 1 (973) 541-3699,
Email: info@curtisswright.com (Canopy Actuator)
16700 13th Ave W PO Box 1, Lynwood, WA 98037-8597 United States (Power Supply)
http://www.eaton.com, 5353 Highland Dr, Jackson, MS 39206 United States,
Tel: + 1 (601) 981-2811, Fax: + 1 (601) 987-5255 (Vane-Type Fuel Pump)
2036 E Dyer Rd, Santa Ana, CA 92705 United States, Tel: + 1 (714) 250-9305,
Fax: + 1 (714) 250-3123 (Radar & RECCE Pod Structure)
http://www.geaviation.com, 1000 Western Ave, Lynn, MA 01905-2655 United States,
Tel: + 1 (781) 594-0200 (F414-GE-400)
http://www.geaviation.com/commercial/digital-systems/avionics, 14200 Roosevelt Blvd,
Clearwater, FL 33762 United States, Tel: + 1 (727) 531-7781, Fax: + 1 (727) 538-7504
(Multipurpose Color Display)
http://www.gkntransparencysystems.com, 12122 Western Ave, Garden Grove, CA
92641-2990 United States, Tel: + 1 (714) 893-7531, Fax: + 1 (714) 892-7635,
Email: sales@tsus.aero.gknplc.com (Canopy)
http://hal-india.com, 15/1 Cubbon Rd, PO Box 5150, Bangalore, India,
Tel: + 91 80 223 2000 1, Fax: + 91 80 223 2075 8 (Gun Bay Door)
http://www.honeywell.com, 1944 E Sky Harbor Circle, Phoenix, AZ 85034 United
States, Tel: + 1 (602) 231-1000, Fax: + 1 (602) 365-2075 (Gyroscope System)
http://www.honeywell.com, 111 S 34th St, Phoenix, AZ 85034-2892 United States,
Tel: + 1 (602) 231-1000, Fax: + 1 (602) 231-5713 (GTCP 36-200 APU)
http://www2.l-3com.com/es/, 25 Cityview Dr, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
Tel: + 1 (416) 249-1231, Fax: + 1 (416) 246-2001 (CRT Display)
http://www.uk.leonardocompany.com, Sigma House, Christopher Martin Rd, Basildon,
Essex, United Kingdom, Tel: + 44 1268 823 400, Fax: + 44 1268 883 140 (Combined
Map & Electronic Display)
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mfc.html, 5600 Sand Lake Rd, MP 455, Orlando,
FL 32819-8907 United States, Tel: + 1 (407) 356-2000, Fax: + 1 (407) 356-2080 (Strike
Camera System; AAS-38A FLIR; Laser Detector & Tracker; Infrared Search and Track
System)
http://www.martin-baker.com, Higher Denham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom,
Tel: + 44 1895 832214, Fax: + 44 1895 832587, Email: information@martin-baker.co.uk
(Ejection Seats)
http://www.meggitt.com, 1204 Massillon Rd, Akron, OH 44306-4186 United States,
Tel: + 1 (330) 796-4400, Fax: + 1 (330) 796-1605 (Wheels & Brakes)
http://www.moog.com, Jamison Rd, East Aurora, NY 14052 United States,
Tel: + 1 (716) 652-2000, Fax: + 1 (716) 687-4457 (Spoiler Actuator)
Military Aircraft Forecast Page 3

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Northrop Grumman Mission http://www.es.northropgrumman.com, 600 Hicks Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-1098
Systems, Land & Self Protection United States, Tel: + 1 (847) 259-9600, Fax: + 1 (847) 870-5705,
Systems Email: contact_dsd@ngc.com (ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver)

Parker Aerospace, Fluid Systems http://www.parker.com, 300 Marcus Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788 United States,
Division Tel: + 1 (631) 639-3737, Fax: + 1 (631) 434-8152, Email: esdmarket@parker.com
(Integrated Fuel & Engine Display)
Raytheon Space and Airborne http://www.raytheon.com, 2501 W University Dr, McKinney, TX 75071 United States,
Systems Tel: + 1 (972) 952-2000 (APG-79)

Rockwell Collins http://www.rockwellcollins.com, 2752 Loker Ave W, Carlsbad, CA 92010 United States,
Tel: + 1 (760) 438-9255, Fax: + 1 (760) 438-6875 (AVQ-28 Multipurpose Display)
Rockwell Collins Inc http://www.rockwellcollins.com, 400 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52498 United
States, Tel: + 1 (319) 295-1000, Fax: + 1 (319) 295-5429 (ARN-118 TACAN)

Thales Optronics Ltd http://www.thalesgroup.com/en/united-kingdom/defence-overview, 1 Linthouse Rd,

Times Fiber Communications Inc
Glasgow, United Kingdom, Tel: + 44 0 141 440 4000, Fax: + 44 0 141 440 4001,
Email: supportline@fr.thalesgroup.com (Horizontal Situation Indicator)
http://www.timesfiber.com, 358 Hall Ave, Wallingford, CT 06492-3555 United States,
Tel: + 1 (800) 677-2288, Fax: + 1 (203) 265-8422 (Warning Receiver Interconnection
System Hardware)

UTC Aerospace Systems, Electric http://utcaerospacesystems.com, 4747 Harrison Ave, Rockford, IL 61108-7929 United
Systems States, Tel: + 1 (815) 226-6000 (Main Engine Fuel Pump)
UTC Aerospace Systems, http://utcaerospacesystems.com, 6225 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence, OH 44131
Landing Gear United States, Tel: + 1 (216) 341-1700, Fax: + 1 (216) 429-4806 (Horizontal Stabilizer
Control)

Contractors are invited to submit updated information to Editor, International Contractors, Forecast International, 22 Commerce Road,
Newtown, CT 06470, USA; rich.pettibone@forecast1.com

Technical Data
(F/A-18E)
Design Features. Mid-wing design, all-moving twin-wheel nose unit. The wing's large leading-edge
horizontal tail surfaces (stabilators), twin swept vertical extensions/strakes blend into the forward fuselage near
stabilizers with single-piece rudders, and high-sink-rate the windshield. Mid-span sawtooth with a leading edge
tricycle landing gear with single-wheel main units and a helps maintain aileron effectiveness at low speed.

©2018 June 2018

Page 4 Military Aircraft Forecast

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Metric U.S.
Dimensions
    Length overall 18.38 m 60.3 ft
    Height 4.88 m 16 ft
    Wingspan 13.68 m 44.9 ft
    Wing area, gross 46.5 sq m 500 sq ft

Weight
    Maximum takeoff weight 29,937 kg 66,000 lb
    Operating weight, empty 14,552 kg 32,100 lb
    Max fuel (internal) 6,354 kg 14,408 lb
    Max stores payload (external) 8,029 kg 17,700 lb

Performance
    Max speed Mach 1.6 Mach 1.6
    Approach speed 232 kmph 125 kt
    Ceiling 15,240+ m 50,000+ ft
    Radius of operation (attack mission) 1,750 km 945 nm

Propulsion
F/A-18E/F (2) GE F414-GE-400 augmented turbofan engines rated approximately 98 kN
(22,000 lbst) with afterburning.

Crew
F/A-18E, one; the F/A-18F is a fully combat-capable operational trainer version that seats two in tandem.

Variants/Upgrades
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Similar in layout and
shape to the F/A-18C/D Hornet, the F/A-18E/F has a
center fuselage extension, 28 percent more internal fuel,
a 25 percent larger wing, and 35 percent more powerful
engines.
EA-18G Growler. Electronic warfare variant based
on the two-seat F/A-18F. This variant was designed to
replace the Grumman EA-6B Prowler and is equipped
with the ALQ-218, ALQ-99, and CSS-113 systems.

Program Review
Background. The U.S. Navy launched the Super first flight in November of the same year. The Navy
Hornet program in 1991 after the service was forced to approved low-rate initial production (LRIP) of 62
cancel the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II aircraft in three batches in March 1997. Boeing
program, leading it to look for a new strike aircraft that delivered the first production aircraft in 1998.
could replace the F-14 Tomcat fighter and Grumman
The Navy's first operational Super Hornet squadron,
A-6 Avenger attack aircraft, as well as replace F/A-18
VFA-115, made its first deployment on the
Hornet fighters as they are retired. The Super Hornet
USS Abraham Lincoln in July 2002. The Super Hornet
was labeled as an evolution of the so-called Classic
made its combat debut in November 2002 when
Hornet, but the differences between the Super Hornet
VFA-115 bombed surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites in
and the Classic Hornet are large enough that the two are
Iraq.
different aircraft rather than simply different variants of
the same design. The Navy began full-rate procurement of the
Super Hornet/Growler in FY00 under an initial
The Navy issued a $4.88 billion development contract
multiyear procurement buy (MYP I) covering 210
in June 1992 to McDonnell Douglas, which was later
aircraft from FY00 through FY04. This was followed
acquired by Boeing, which then became prime
by MYP II in FY05 (233 aircraft from FY05-FY09).
contractor for the program. The contract covered seven
The Pentagon awarded an MYP III contract in
flight test aircraft and three ground test articles. Rollout
September 2010 covering 124 aircraft, including 66
of the first prototype occurred in September 1995, with

June 2018
Military Aircraft Forecast
Super Hornets and 58 Growlers. The Navy later
increased the contract by 24 Super Hornets (23 Es and
one F) and 24 Growlers.
Block II Upgrades
The upgraded Block II Super Hornet debuted in 2005.
The new standard replaced the existing mechanically
scanning APG-73 radar with the active electronically
scanned array (AESA) APG-79. Other improvements
included a full Link 16 Multifunctional Information
Distribution System (MIDS), the ASQ-228 Advanced
Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod,
and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The
F model also included a new crew station that
decoupled the rear seat's sensors and weapon systems
from the pilot's, allowing the aircraft's crew to work
independently of each other as needed. The first
deployment of a Navy squadron equipped with the
Block II Super Hornet took place in May 2008.
The U.S. Navy has no plan to re-engine the Super
Hornet, but it has been approached by several
manufacturers. Pratt & Whitney proposed its PW7000,
combining the combustor, HP turbine, and compressor
from the commercial PW6000 with a scaled LP turbine
and fan from the JSF119. P&W said the PW7000
would offer a 31 percent range increase, boost
acceleration by more than 25 percent, and extend mean
time between overhauls out to 1,000 hours. GE,
meanwhile, proposes to increase the thrust of its F414
by 15 to 20 percent using swept three-dimensional
blades, lower temperatures, and a new two-stage fan.
IRST System
Under a $135 million contract announced in
August 2011, Boeing is developing an infrared search-
and-track sensor that is mounted on the front of an
external fuel tank. Using a center-mounted fuel tank for
the installation allows a passive infrared search-and-
track (IRST) capability to be added to the Super Hornet
without requiring extensive modifications to the
airframe. The IRST system will be installed on
Block III Super Hornets (see below).
Advanced Super Hornet Concept
In mid-2013, Boeing announced plans to test radar
signature reduction features on the Super Hornet similar
to those on its F-15SE Silent Eagle design, including
conformal fuel tanks, an enclosed weapons pod, and
new exterior coatings. Two conformal tanks replace
inboard wing external tanks, reducing radar signature
and extending the aircraft's range. The weapon pod
could carry two AIM-120 missiles in addition to
air-to-ground ordnance. The design, sometimes called
©2018
Page 5
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
the "Advanced Super Hornet," also features an
increased-thrust version of the F414 engine.
E/A-18G Growler
In 1995, McDonnell Douglas and Northrop agreed to
develop an EW variant of the F/A-18F to replace the
Grumman EA-6B Prowler. The variant requires no
structural modifications and retains the air-to-air and
air-to-ground capabilities of the E/F, but features a
weight increase of about 1,700 pounds. The aircraft are
fitted with podded wingtip-mounted wideband receiver
arrays, a dorsal-mounted satcom/GPS antenna, and
AESA radar. Two aircraft were used as prototypes for
flight testing after conversion to the electronic attack
configuration.
Boeing received the EA-18G System Development and
Demonstration (SDD) contract in December 2003. The
development program progressed on schedule, and
Boeing delivered the first EA-18G Growler to the Navy
in September 2006. It delivered the first production
aircraft a year later in September 2007.
Unlike the aircraft used in flight testing, the production
EA-18G was entirely assembled and tested on the same
production line as the existing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The Navy's original production target for the Growler
was 90 aircraft. This requirement was later cut to 80,
but, as expected, the cuts were temporary. The Navy's
FY09 budget raised the target to 85 units, and in its
FY11 budget the service raised the requirement to 114
aircraft. The total was later raised to 135 aircraft in
FY14 and to 160 aircraft in FY17.
International Sales
Australia ordered 24 two-seat F/A-18Fs in May 2007 in
a $3 billion deal. The aircraft were needed to fill the
capability gap between retirement of the Royal
Australian Air Force's F-111 strike aircraft and the
arrival of the Lockheed Martin F-35As that the RAAF
would use to replace its fleet of Hornet fighters. The 24
aircraft were added to the U.S. Navy's MYP II contract
to speed up their delivery, bringing total MYP II
procurement to 257 aircraft. Deliveries under the
$3 billion contract began in 2009 and were completed in
2011.
Australia later, in July 2014, placed a follow-on order
for 12 Growlers through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales
(FMS) program. Delivery of these aircraft wrapped up
in 2017.
Kuwait ordered 28 Super Hornets in March 2018,
including 22 single-seat E models and six dual-seat
F models. Boeing did not announce an estimated value
of the contract or a delivery schedule at the time the
June 2018
Page 6 Military Aircraft Forecast

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

deal was signed. The forecast envisions initial begins with service life modification work to fix any
deliveries in 2021, but this a preliminary forecast only corrosion, make the aircraft more maintainable, and
that will be adjusted as more information becomes extend its service life to the 9,000-hour mark. It then
available. receives the Block III upgrades before redelivery to the
fleet.
Block III Super Hornet Upgrades
Boeing received a contract to begin work on an initial
Boeing has developed a "Block III" Super Hornet to batch of four Block II aircraft to the Block III
entice the U.S. Navy to continue buying the aircraft. configuration in March 2018.
Early in his administration, President Donald Trump
asked whether a Super Hornet could replace the
Lockheed Martin F-35C model in Navy procurement
plans. The Block III configuration includes:
 New radar-absorbent coatings in various parts of
the airframe to reduce radar signature.
 An externally mounted IRST system.
 Conformal fuel tanks that extend range by 100-120
nautical miles and free up hardpoints for ordnance
below the wings and reduce drag.
 An improved crew station centered on a new 9-inch
x 11-inch display combined with a new, lower-
profile head-up display.
 An upgraded computer infrastructure, the
Distributed Targeting Processor Network.
 Increased internal bandwidth for data sharing using
the Tactical Targeting Network Technology
system.
The upgraded model will also roll out of the factory
with a 9,000-hour airframe, up from the existing model's
6,500 hours.
The Navy will begin procuring new-build Block III
aircraft in FY19. The service's existing fleet of aircraft
will receive the upgrades via a progressive retrofit
program. The retrofit program for an individual aircraft

Funding
U.S. FUNDING*
FY19 FY19
FY16 FY16 FY17 FY17 FY18** FY18** (Req.) (Req.)
QTY AMT QTY AMT QTY AMT QTY AMT
F/A-18E/F
Net Procurement Cost* 5 350.0 14 1,146.9 24 1,908.9 24 1,937.6
Adv. Proc. (current year) 0 0 53.0 58.8
Mods (F-18 Series) 920.4 988.2 982.4 1,213.5
RDT&E (IRST Funding) 0 0 0 108.7
RDT&E (PE#0204136N) 135.8 174.4 216.0 193.1
Total 1,406.2 2,309.5 3,160.3 3,511.7

EA-18G
Net Procurement Cost* 7 660.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Adv. Proc. (current year) 0 0 0 0

June 2018
Military Aircraft Forecast Page 7

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

RDT&E (PE#0604269N) 46.9 104.4 141.5 147.4
Total 706.9 104.4 141.5 147.4

* Procurement costs represent net P-1 costs taken from Fiscal Year Budget Item Justification sheets. Net procurement cost is
equal to the fiscal year's Gross/Weapon System cost minus the advance procurement costs of the prior fiscal year. All listed
costs are drawn from DoD budget documents.
**Congress had yet to approve FY18 appropriations at time of writing; this column provides forecast data based on congressional
actions through February 2018
All $ are in millions.

Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs)

The Department of Defense (DoD) periodically releases Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) that summarize the
latest estimates of cost, schedule, and performance status for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP). These
reports are prepared annually in conjunction with submission of the president's budget. (Subsequent quarterly
exception reports are required only for those programs experiencing unit cost increases of at least 15 percent or
schedule delays of at least six months.)
The total program cost estimates provided in the SARs include research and development, procurement, military
construction, and acquisition-related operations and maintenance. Total program costs reflect actual costs to date as
well as future anticipated costs.
See below for instructions on how to view the annual SAR related to this particular report.
Online and DVD Clients – Click link below.
Hard-Copy Clients – Insert the CD located in sleeve at the front of the binder. (Electronic version updated
quarterly.)

©2018 June 2018

Page 8 Military Aircraft Forecast

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Contracts/Orders & Options

Award
Contractor ($ millions) Date/Description
Boeing Up to 1,100 Mar 2018 – Contract for long-lead non-recurring engineering required to
develop a baseline configuration for the production and delivery of 22
F/A-18E and six F/A-18F Super Hornets.
Boeing 676.6 Sept 2017 – Contract for six Lot 41 F/A-18E and eight F/A-18F Super
Hornets using FY17 funding.
Boeing 678.7 Feb 2017 – Contract for seven Lot 40 EA-18Gs and five F/A-18E
fighters.
Boeing 897.5 Oct 2015 – Contract for production of 15 Lot 38 EA-18Gs for U.S. Navy.
Boeing 1,939.2 Jun 2014 – Contract for production of 11 Lot 38 F/A-18Es for the U.S.
Navy and 33 EA-18Gs for the Navy (21) and Australia (12).
Boeing 45.2 May 2013 – Contract modification to exercise option for seven
F414-GE-400 spare engines for the F/A-18E/F.
Boeing 687.6 Nov 2012 – Contract for 15 FY13 (Lot 37) F/A-18E aircraft.
Boeing 687.5 Jan 2012 – Contract covering 14 additional FY12 Lot 36 F/A-18E aircraft
and one additional FY12 Lot 36 F/A-18F. The order increased the total
MYP III order to 69 Es and 21 Fs.
Boeing 29.7 Nov 2011 – Contract modification for eight F-414-GE-400 spare engines
for F/A-18E/F aircraft.
General Electric 38.8 Sep 2011 – Contract modification providing for three spare F414-GE-400
engines and engine components.
Boeing 46.7 Sep 2011 – Contract modification covering various quantities of new
consumable parts to support F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft.
Boeing 135 Aug 2011 – Contract covering engineering, manufacturing, and
development of F/A-18E/F IRST system. Work was scheduled for
completion in 2015.
General Electric 71.5 Aug 2011 – Contract modification exercising option to procure 18
F414-GE-400 engines and engine device kits.
Boeing 408.7 Jun 2011 – Contract modification for production of nine FY11 Lot 35
F/A-18E aircraft.
General Electric 246.5 Mar 2011 – Contract modification exercising option for 68 Lot 15
F-414-GE-400 engines and device kits for F/A-18E/F aircraft.
Boeing 5,297 Sep 2010 – Multiyear (FY10-FY13) procurement of 124 aircraft, including
46 F/A-18E, 20 F/A-18F, and 58 EA-18G aircraft. Delivery was to occur
2012-2015.
Boeing 54.1 Dec 2009 – Contract for long-lead material and effort associated with
full-rate production of Lot 35 F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft.
General Electric 438 Mar 2009 – Contract modification covering 90 F414-GE-400 engines and
device kits for U.S. Navy.
Boeing 1,319 Sep 2007 – Modification of previously awarded contract covering
procurement of 24 F/A-18Fs for Australia under the FMS program.
General Electric 339 Sep 2007 – Modification of previously awarded contract that provided for
FY07-FY08 full-rate production of 84 F-414-GE-400 engines and related
parts and equipment.
Boeing 171 Sep 2007 – Modification of previously awarded contract covering
procurement of three F/A-18Fs and one EA-18G for U.S. Navy.
Boeing 9,600 Jan 2004 – Multiyear (FY05-FY09) procurement of 210 F/A-18E/Fs, plus
design and development of EA-18G electronic attack variant.
  

June 2018
Military Aircraft Forecast Page 9

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Timetable
Month Year Major Development
Jan 1988 McDonnell Douglas and Navy begin study of advanced version of F/A-18 Hornet
May 1992 EMD phase of F/A-18E/F program approved as engineering change proposal rather
than new aircraft program
Dec 1992 EMD contract executed
Sep 1995 F/A-18E/F first flight
Apr 1996 Authorization to procure LRIP long-lead items
Apr 1996 McDonnell Douglas and Northrop plan electronic warfare variant
Sep 1997 Start of LRIP production at Boeing
Mar 1998 LRIP II production funding approved
Jan 1999 First Super Hornet squadron, VFA-122, "stands up"
May 1999 Operational test and evaluation phase begins
Nov 1999 Boeing selects Raytheon to develop APG-79 AESA radar for Super Hornet
Feb 2000 Full-rate production begins
June 2000 Pentagon awards first five-year multiyear procurement contract, for 222 aircraft
Sep 2001 Initial Operational Capability
Dec 2003 Navy awards $1 billion, five-year SDD contract for EA-18G Growler
Apr 2005 Debut of Block II version of Super Hornet
Aug 2006 First flight of EA-18G developmental aircraft, EA-1
Dec 2007 IOC of Block II Super Hornet
Sep 2009 EA-18G reaches IOC
Apr 2011 Boeing delivers 500th Super Hornet and Growler to the USN
Feb 2014 Boeing tests new IRST system on Super Hornet
Jan 2015 USN approves IRST system for low-rate initial production
Mar 2018 Kuwait orders 28 Super Hornets

Worldwide Distribution/Inventories
(as of January 2018)

Operator Designation Quantity

Australia Air Force F/A-18A 55
Australia Air Force F/A-18B 16
Australia Air Force F/A-18F 24
Australia Air Force EA-18G 12
Canada CS CF-18A 54
Canada CS CF-18B 22
Finland Air Force F/A-18C 55
Finland Air Force F/A-18D 7
Kuwait Air Force F/A-18C 26
Kuwait Air Force F/A-18D 7
Malaysia Air Force F/A-18D 8
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Admin F/A-18A 4
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Admin F/A-18B 2
Spain Air Force EF-18A 76
Spain Air Force EF-18B 12
Switzerland Air Force F/A-18C 23

©2018 June 2018

Page 10
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Operator
Switzerland Air Force
United States Navy/Marines
United States Navy/Marines
United States Navy/Marines
United States Navy/Marines
United States Navy
United States Navy
United States Navy
* Source: U.S. Budget Justification for FY19. Some aircraft may be in storage or depot-level maintenance. Totals may not reflect
active inventory.
Forecast Rationale
Production of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet family,
which includes both the fighter and the EA-18G
Growler electronic warfare variant, was once expected
to end in 2018. The Navy has instead lobbied Congress
to extend procurement as it waits for Lockheed Martin
to complete development and ramp up production of the
carrier-capable F-35C variant in the long-delayed Joint
Strike Fighter program.
Procurement of the Growler will total 160 aircraft under
current plans. The Navy had received approximately
152 Growlers by the end of 2017, leaving a backlog of
eight aircraft (Australia has taken delivery of another
12). No other export customers for the type are
expected, and Boeing is forecast to deliver the last Navy
Growler in 2018.
The open question is, how long will Boeing keep
producing the fighter variant? The Navy had initially
completed procurement of the Super Hornet in FY13 at
563 aircraft, and the last of these aircraft was delivered
in 2016. The idea was that the F-35C would begin to
replace legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets on carrier decks
around this time.
The heavy use of Navy fighters for ground attack and
other air missions in the Middle East since 2001 used up
aircraft flight hours faster than the Navy once expected.
Many aircraft now need to be either retired or sent out
for the year-long Service Life Extension Program
(SLEP). At the same time, delays in development of the
F-35C will create a gap between the number of fighters
the Navy needs for its carrier air wings and the number
that are ready for active service.
Congress allowed the Navy to procure five more Super
Hornets in FY16 to help cover the gap, and it approved
procurement of 14 more aircraft in FY17 and 24 in
June 2018
Military Aircraft Forecast
Designation Quantity
F/A-18D 7
F/A-18A 78*
F/A-18B 14*
F/A-18C 333*
F/A-18D 125*
F/A-18E 284
F/A-18F 257
EA-18G 155
FY18. The Navy's budget plan for FY19 included
procurement of 110 more aircraft through FY23, which
would take production out to around 2025. We believe
that the Navy will continue to procure the Super Hornet
into the 2020s to make up for likely shortfalls in fighter
capability. More delays or price increases in the F-35C
program could also lead the Navy to slash the number of
stealth aircraft it plans to buy, which would require it to
continue to procure more Super Hornets.
The outlook was also boosted by a new order from
Kuwait, which ordered 28 Super Hornets in
March 2018, including 22 single-seat E models and six
dual-seat F models. The U.S. State Department
approved the sale of up to 40 aircraft to Kuwait in
November 2016, and the desert kingdom took out 12
options as part of the new deal. It may add to its order
in the future.
Boeing believes it can secure more export orders in
coming years.
Canada is one potential customer. In November 2016,
the Canadian government announced that it was
exploring the purchase of 18 Super Hornets to
supplement the fleet of 79 aging F/A-18C/D Hornets it
acquired in the 1980s. Canada was expected to order 65
F-35As to replace these aircraft, but the Liberal Party
leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, wants to buy a
different fighter instead. However, Boeing's decision to
file an illegal dumping complaint with the U.S.
government against Canadian manufacturer
Bombardier's CSeries regional jet program placed the
future of a Super Hornet order in doubt. But after the
U.S. International Trade Commission overturned a U.S.
Commerce Department ruling in Boeing's favor,
annulling the tariffs the Commerce Department had
imposed on imports of the CSeries, Boeing seemed
Military Aircraft Forecast Page 11

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

ready to pursue the contract once again. The Canadian
government may also be ready to let bygones be
bygones, particularly when a Super Hornet order could
be one way of placating the Trump administration's
attacks on the U.S./Canadian trade relationship.
India is another potential customer for the Super Hornet.
The Indian government issued a Request for
Information (RFI) in January 2017 regarding a possible
purchase of 57 new carrier-capable fighters after
determining that the naval version of HAL's upgraded
Tejas Mk 2 Light Combat Aircraft may not meet the
service's needs. The Indian Navy has purchased
Russian MiG-29K fighters for use on the existing Indian
aircraft carrier Vikramaditya (known as the Gorshkov in
Russian service) and for its first indigenously built
carrier currently under construction, but the service now
considers the MiG-29K unreliable and underpowered.
The Super Hornet and the Dassault Rafale are both
viable candidates to fill this requirement.

Ten-Year Outlook

ESTIMATED CALENDAR YEAR UNIT PRODUCTION

Designation or Program High Confidence Good Confidence Speculative

Thru 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total

Boeing Defense, Space & Security

EA-18 <> F414 -GE-400 <> (USN)
Note: Historical production includes 12 Growlers for Australia.
165 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

F/A-18 E/F <> F414 -GE-400 <> Kuwait <> Air Force
0 0 0 0 4 10 10 4 0 0 0 28

F/A-18 E/F <> F414 -GE-400 <> United States <> Navy
570 15 23 24 24 24 24 19 10 8 8 179
Subtotal 735 22 23 24 28 34 34 23 10 8 8 214

Total 735 22 23 24 28 34 34 23 10 8 8 214

©2018 June 2018