Boeing on Wednesday provided a delivery update for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, saying the 257 aircraft have been delivered to the Navy on time and within budget.
”Super Hornets and Growlers provide unmatched, proven and affordable capability for U.S. Navy carrier strike groups around the globe,” said Mike Gibbons, vice president, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs. “Boeing and its more than 1,900 Super Hornet and Growler suppliers are committed to ensuring this nation’s warfighters have the advanced capability they need, on time and on budget, as promised.”
The aircraft were delivered to the Navy from 2007 through 2011 under a multi-year procurement (MYP) contract awarded to Boeing in 2003. The Navy purchased the aircraft during fiscal years 2005-2009. Multi-year procurement contracts provide a stable production environment that enables manufacturers and suppliers to reduce cost through bulk purchasing and productivity enhancements. The initial MYP II contract award included 210 F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs. Through fiscal year 2009, 47 more aircraft were added to the contract, including 24 F/A-18Fs acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force under a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the U.S. Navy. On Sept. 28, 2010, the Navy awarded Boeing the MYP III contract for delivery of 66 F/A-18E/Fs and 58 EA-18Gs, to be purchased through 2013.
Boeing delivered 210 Super Hornets to the Navy during MYP I, which spanned fiscal years 2000 through 2004. Procuring aircraft through the first two multi-year contracts generated $1.7 billion in savings for the Navy. MYP III is projected to generate more than $600 million in savings, with total savings of more than $2.3 billion across the three F/A-18E/F and EA-18G contracts.