Page 47 - Aviation News - September 2017

pod. Boeing delivered the rst upgraded F/A-
18C+ models in 2016.
Early this year, the US Navy had a eet
of 36 F/A-18As, 14 F/A-18Bs, 219 F/A-18Cs
and 35 F/A-18Ds and 287 F/A-18Es and 259
F/A-18Fs. The Marine Corps had 53 F/A-
18As, seven F/A-18Bs, 129 F/A-18Cs and 92
F/A-18Ds.
The last F/A-18C ight was carried out
by VFA-113 at NAS Lemoore, California,
in February 2016, and all the Paci c Fleet
squadrons have since transitioned to the Super
Hornet, leaving Hornets with four Atlantic Fleet,
three test, two Naval Reserve units as well as A two-seat Block II F/A-18F assigned to VFA-213 ‘Black Lions’, prepares to make an arrested
the US Naval Air Test Pilot School, Naval Air landing aboard the USS George H W Bush in the Persian Gulf. US Navy/MC3 Christopher Gaines
Warfare Development Center and the US Navy
Flight Demonstration Squadron ‘Blue Angels’.
Under current plans, legacy Hornets will
continue in service with operational and
reserve squadrons until 2027 and 2034
respectively. The navy’s latest Programme
of Record calls for 662 Super Hornets,
comprising 344 F/A-18Es and 318 F/A-18Fs,
and the ghters will likely remain in service
until 2040 or later.
The 2017 Defense Authorization Act
provided for the purchase of 26 Super Hornets,
and for FY2018 the USN requested 14 aircraft.
As part of a plan to increase the size and
capability of its strike ghter eet, the USN A dual-control F/A-18D assigned to VFA-106 ‘Gladiators’ makes an arrested landing aboard
intends to acquire at least 80 additional F/A- the carrier USS Harry S Truman. This squadron is responsible for all US Navy legacy Hornet
18E/Fs over the next ve years at a cost of training. US Navy/PHOM2 Aldon L Taylor
$7.1bn, and believes that replacing its remaining GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II). revealed plans for investing $265m over ve
F/A-18C/Ds will save about $290m by not The USN’s Super Hornet modernisation years to upgrade the Super Hornet eet to the
upgrading and maintaining the legacy ghters. plan is taking an incremental approach to Block III con guration, beginning in 2019.
Opting to retain their legacy Hornets until incorporate new technologies and capabilities, The work will integrate advanced network
replaced by F-35B/C Joint Strike Fighters, which include Digital Communication architecture, cockpit displays – including a
the Marines did not acquire Super Hornets. System Radios, MIDS-JTRS (Joint Tactical large area 10 x 19in (25.4 x 48.3cm) display
As noted in the 2017 Marine Aviation Plan, Radio System), upgraded ATFLIR, Accurate – a more powerful Distributed Targeting
its jets will remain in service with the active Navigation (ANAV), integrated infrared search Processing Network (DTPN) computer and a
duty squadrons until FY2030 and with the and track (IRST) and radar upgrades. Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT)
reserves until FY2031, and the former will be Future plans envisage integrating the data link. The latter will see the Super Hornet,
consolidated at MCAS Miramar, California, in AIM-120D, upgrading the AIM-9X missiles and EA-18G Growler and E-2D Hawkeye sharing
2027. improving the cockpit and displays. Several data over a common network in combat.
Continued upgrades will provide the of the upgrades – which will combine to make In addition, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs)
Hornet with an Advanced Capabilities Mission the Super Hornet a ‘smart node’ in the navy’s will replace the ghter’s external tanks. First
Computer (ACMC) plus new displays – and Integrated Fire Control Counter-Air (NIFC-CA) offered as part of Boeing’s Advanced Super
weapons including AIM-120D and AIM-9X network – were featured in Boeing’s proposed Hornet, the CFTs – which will hold 3,500 US
Block II missiles, the Joint Direct Attack Advanced Super Hornet and later Block III gal (13,249 lit) – will extend range by between
Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER), 2.75in upgrade. 110 and 120nm (185 and 222km), reduce drag
(70mm) laser-guided advanced precision kill According to the manufacturer, Block III is and allow for additional stores to be carried
weapon system (APKWS) rockets and the “a balanced approach to survivability, including under the wings.
electronic warfare and self-protection”, which it The ghter’s RCS will meanwhile be
says it could begin delivering in late 2020. further reduced by the inclusion of “advanced
Fielding of an IRST sensor rst tested in signature enhancements”. Overall, Block III
2014 will begin in 2017: considered to be an will see the Super Hornet complement the
interim solution, the AN/ASG-34 will enable F-35C rather than replacing it as suggested by
the ghter to detect aerial targets passively at President Trump earlier this year.
long ranges. Elected officials recently voiced concerns
Installed in the front of an FPU-13 fuel over the ability of Naval Reserve’s F/A-18A+
tank assembly and carried on the centreline aircraft to meet operational requirements,
station, it will offer an alternative re control recommending that the USN consider
system in a high-electronic attack/radar-denied replacing the aircraft. Although the legacy
environment. Boeing received an $89m Hornets are scheduled to remain in service
contract to integrate a Block II IRST system for at least another decade, continued
with the F/A-18E/F in May this year. procurement of Super Hornets could
The USN’s FY2018 budget request potentially hasten their retirement.

An F/A-18E assigned to VFA-195 in formation with a pair of F-4EJ Kais from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s
302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron during a dissimilar air combat training mission. US Navy/CDR Ryan Jackson

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