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Boeing has announced that it has won a contract to continue modernising the US Navy’s fleet of F-18 aircraft under the Service Life Modification (SLM) program.
The contract is for a one-year deal plus an optional extra year for 2020.
“The Service Life Modification program is making great strides as we’ve already inducted seven Super Hornets into the program and will deliver the first jet back to the Navy later this year,” said Dave Sallenbach, program director.
“This program is crucial in helping the Navy with its readiness challenges and will continue to grow each year with the number of jets we induct.”
The first contract year is worth $164 million, and Boeing confirmed that it would fund the standup of a second SLM line in San Antonio, Texas, which would compliment the first line established in St. Louis.
The first Super Hornet for the San Antonio line is scheduled for June, with a total of 23 Super Hornets over the course of the contract, with the SLM program extending the life of the aircraft from 6,000 to 10,000 flight hours.
Boeing is scheduled to begin installing initial updates to the aircraft that will convert existing Block II Super Hornets to a new Block III configuration, in the early 2020s.
The Block III conversion will include enhanced network capability, longer range with conformal fuel tanks, an advanced cockpit system, signature improvements and an enhanced communication system. The updates are expected to keep the F-18 in active service for “decades to come”.
