American aerospace firm Boeing has clinched a $2-billion contract to modernize the US Navy’s fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft.
According to a US Department of Defense announcement, the agreement covers system upgrades, including those sold to foreign military customers.
The company will also deliver spare parts and necessary services in line with systems configuration requirements, as well as update software and hardware to implement new capabilities on the aircraft.
Apart from the F/A-18 Super Hornets, the contract also covers the modernization of EA-18G electronic reconnaissance aircraft.
Work will be carried out in Missouri and California and is expected to be completed by 2027.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet
First entering service in 1999, the F/A-18 Super Hornet is highly-capable of close air support, air defense suppression, and day/night precision strikes.
It can be outfitted with external equipment and advanced networking capabilities to accomplish specific missions.
The twin-engine aircraft provides military units with greater flexibility in rapidly changing battle scenarios.
The Super Hornet can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 1.7 and a range of up to 1,275 nautical miles.
It is capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles, as well as joint stand-off weapons.
Earlier this year, the US Navy awarded Mercury Mission Systems a $35.7-million deal to deliver retrofitted avionics for its Super Hornets.
