Article Posted on : - Feb 05, 2009

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Boeing image

NEW YORK (BNS): In a bid to strengthen Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Boeing and the US Navy have offered them the advanced, multi-role F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jet.

The FAB had selected Super Hornet as one of the three aircraft in October last to be evaluated for the F-X2 fighter competition. Brazil has a demand of 36 aircraft; and is expected to award the contract by the yearend.

Bob Gower, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 programmes for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Integrated Defence Systems said that they offered the Brazilian Air Force the advanced combat capability of the Block II Super Hornet. “We believe this proposal will meet the Brazilian Air Force's operational requirements and reflects the US government's decision to release Super Hornet technology,” Gower said.

“Boeing is looking forward to an opportunity to establish long-term partnerships with the Brazilian Air Force, Brazilian industry and the government of Brazil,” Gower added.

“The Super Hornet, with core strengths in both performance and technology, is the most advanced multipurpose strike fighter in production today, with a proven performance record through more than 500,000 hours of flight time. It is operated by the US Navy and is currently being built for the Royal Australian Air Force. The Super Hornet programme has continued to add capability to the aircraft while decreasing cost over its lifetime. In addition, the Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter incorporating next-generation capabilities, including the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, which the US government released to Brazil as part of the Super Hornet offering,” the Boeing said in a statement.

Boeing has delivered more than 380 Super Hornets to the US Navy, all on or ahead of the original production delivery schedule. Australia is procuring Super Hornets to bolster its fleet of F/A-18 Hornets. Boeing is in discussions with several other international customers about their interest in procuring the Super Hornet, the company said.