A Canadian CF-18 along with four possible contenders for follow-on fighters for Canada. Top to bottom: Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, Eurofighter Typhoon. DoD Photos
Boeing and Lockheed Martin, rivals locked in Canada’s long-time saga of considering a next-generation fighter, were two of four firms invited this week to submit bids to build the aircraft.
F/A-18E Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 ‘Knighthawks’ fly in formation during a photo exercise over California on March 12, 2019. US Navy Photo
The Navy awarded Boeing a $4 billion multi-year contract modification to build 78 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, according to a Wednesday Pentagon contract announcement. Read More
A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet, with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, is parked on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) US Navy Photo
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Navy is working through how it will try and hit the ambitious readiness target set by Secretary of Defense James Mattis for Hornet and Super Hornet fighters, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition James “Hondo” Geurts said on Tuesday. Read More
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Alexandra Mimbela performs maintenance on an F/A-18F Super Hornet. US Navy Photo
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Navy is exploring how new acquisition authorities may help save money when buying weapons, but the service still needs to find ways to control long-term sustainment and modernization costs throughout the long lives of these systems, a panel said this week.
An F/A-18F Super Hornet attached to the “Blacklions” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 launches from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) for an air power demonstration rehearsal in 2017. US Navy Photo
Robust demand for Boeing’s fighter and surveillance aircraft and increases in the company’s service business maintaining both military and commercial aircraft were cited by corporate leaders with helping boost second quarter revenues.
A F-35 A Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin Photo
THE PENTAGON — During the run-up to the recent Shangri-La defense summit in Singapore, the U.S. Department of State’s lead for foreign arms sales pitched Indo-Pacific allies and partners on buying more American-made weapons systems.
U.S. and French fighter pilots have spent nearly two months training alongside each other, exchanging tactics and comparing notes on what their Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets can accomplish. Read More
