Energy News  
Boeing Begins Final Assembly Of RAAF FA-18F Super Hornets

The Super Hornet being produced for Australia is based on the F/A-18F operated by the U.S. Navy. The Block II Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter that incorporates next-generation capabilities.
by Staff Writers
St. Louis MO (SPX) Dec 26, 2008
Boeing began final assembly operations Dec. 9 in St. Louis on the first of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Super Hornet multirole fighter aircraft will be delivered to the RAAF from the first quarter of 2010 through late 2011.

"The Super Hornet is on schedule to deliver unmatched multirole capabilities for Australia," said Bob Gower, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

"The Block II Super Hornet's next-generation technologies - including Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, fused sensors, and a network-centric data-sharing environment - will provide wide-ranging air combat solutions for Australian Defence forces. Those capabilities will be delivered in a date-certain and cost-certain program."

Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Head Air Combat Transition Office, RAAF, said the Super Hornet will enable Australia to retain a regionally superior air combat capability. "The Super Hornet will bring Australia into a new generation of air power," Roberton said.

"Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver unprecedented air combat capability across the spectrum of air defense, strategic land attack and maritime strike. It is a true multirole aircraft and there's a lot of excitement on the ground in Air Combat Group about the arrival of the RAAF's Super Hornet."

The Super Hornet being produced for Australia is based on the F/A-18F operated by the U.S. Navy. The Block II Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter that incorporates next-generation capabilities.

"The Super Hornet is a model acquisition program for the United States and the U.S. Navy, one that has continued to add capability while decreasing costs," said U.S. Navy Capt. James Kennedy, F/A-18 International Business deputy program manager.

"The Super Hornet will provide our Australian partners with a powerful new weapon system. I'm certain they will find the unparalleled aircrew situational awareness and seamless execution of same-time air and ground missions to be as invaluable as our U.S. Navy aircrews do. The Super Hornet is delivering tomorrow's capabilities today."

The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 F/A-18Fs, making Australia the first international Super Hornet customer.

The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 375 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Docs to learn battlefield acupuncture
San Diego (UPI) Dec 22, 2008
The U.S military is adding acupuncture to its repertoire for relieving chronic pain, said Pacific College of Oriental Medicine officials.







  • Oil companies bullish on shale oil
  • Answers To Huge Wind-Farm Problems Are Blowin' In The Wind
  • Gazprom Continues Talks With Ukraine Despite Harsh Rhetoric
  • Gas OPEC Will Not Fiddle With Prices

  • Japan to reimport nuclear fuel from France: source
  • SKorea announces 28.5 bln dollar energy plan
  • US Bechtel wins Egypt nuclear power contract
  • Areva, Mitsubishi announce nuclear fuel tie-up

  • Greenhouse gas emissions study released
  • Research Into Fair-Weather Clouds Important In Climate Predictions
  • ESA Tests Laser To Measure Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
  • Asia not responsible for 'brown haze': India

  • Real Christmas trees 'greener' than fakes
  • Ghana's 'miracle': logging underwater forests for exotic timber
  • Thwarting Efforts To Use Carbon Markets To Halt Deforestation
  • Climate change putting forests at risk

  • Two more stand trial in China milk scandal
  • Chinese dairy firms to pay out millions to milk victims: state media
  • Chinese dairy firms agree to pay compensation for melamine victims: report
  • Taiwan home-grown food firms get boost after China scandal

  • China's Foton says clean energy car factory opened in Beijing
  • China to offer incentives to scrap old cars: state media
  • China opens road tunnel under Yangtze: state media
  • China plans to avert US-style auto crisis: report

  • China Eastern says bailout increased to one billion dollars
  • Britain's environment minister concerned by Heathrow plan
  • Climate protesters cause chaos at British airport
  • Thompson Files: Protect U.S. aerospace

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Nuclear Power In Space
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement