Naomi Cooper
Boeing has delivered the first two upgraded F/A-18 Block III Super Hornets to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule.
The company said Thursday it has equipped the aircraft with tactical targeting network technology and a distributed targeting processor-networked open mission systems processor to upgrade and extend the service life of the fighter jets.
The Super Hornets underwent service life modification at Boeing sites in St. Louis and San Antonio and at the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego and were delivered from the company’s new-build production line.
“These first deliveries of Block III SLM jets are a major milestone in our continued efforts to ensure capability, reliability, availability and maintainability of the Super Hornet aircraft,” said Capt. Michael Burks, program manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office.
Boeing signed a public-private partnership with Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in March to allow the readiness center to perform the Block III SLM work.
