Boeing, US Navy Say F/A-18E/F Would Make A Great Dane
Boeing and the US Navy delivered a proposal August 15 formally
offering the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the Royal Danish
Air Force as part of Denmark's New Combat Aircraft competition.
Boeing received a Request for Information from Denmark in May.
The stated initial requirement is for 48 aircraft.
"The winner must present a good balance of capability, cost and
risk, and be able to provide Danish industry with a viable and
competitive long-term partnership," said Dan Korte, vice president
and general manager for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems. "We believe the Super Hornet is the best-value
option and offers a winning solution for Denmark's fighter
requirements."
The Super Hornet variant offered to Denmark is based on the
F/A-18E/F model flown by the US Navy and the 24 F/A-18Fs currently
being produced for the Royal Australian Air Force. The Block II
Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter
incorporating next-generation capabilities, including the
Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
radar.
"The Super Hornet has been a model acquisition program for the
United States and the US Navy, one that has continued to add
capability while decreasing cost over its lifetime," said US Navy
Capt. James Kennedy, F/A-18 International Business deputy program
manager. "The Super Hornet, with its small logistics footprint and
high mission-readiness rates, will stand well in the competition
since it enhances effective deployment in international operations.
With the AESA radar now fully onboard, the two-seat F/A-18F is
providing unmatched aircrew situational awareness and taking air
combat capabilities to new levels, as we can now seamlessly execute
same-time air and ground missions. This is truly an aircraft that
delivers tomorrow's capabilities today."
Boeing has delivered more than 360 Super Hornets to the US Navy,
all on or ahead of the original production delivery schedule.
Australia has ordered 24 Super Hornets to bolster its fleet of
F/A-18 Hornets, and Boeing is in discussions with several other
international customers about their interest in procuring the Super
Hornet.
On July 30, Boeing delivered a proposal to the Brazilian Air
Force offering 36 Super Hornets for Brazil's F-X2 fighter
competition. On August. 4, Boeing submitted a comprehensive
industrial-participation proposal to the government of India in
support of the company's offer of 126 Super Hornets to the Indian
Air Force for India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
program.