Boeing rolls out first F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet test jet

[The Ronin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1258758638379896836

U.S. aerospace giant Boeing announced on 8 May that first F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet test jet has rolled out of final assembly.

“Two of these test jets will head to the U.S. Navy, where they’ll help pilots familiarize themselves with the updated jets and be used in carrier flight tests,” the company said on Twitter.

The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet is the newest highly capable, affordable and available tactical aircraft in U.S. Navy inventory. The Super Hornet is the backbone of the U.S. Navy carrier air wing now and for decades to come.

The combat-proven Super Hornet delivers cutting-edge, next-generation multi-role strike fighter capability, outdistancing current and emerging threats well into the future. The Super Hornet has the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any country.

Two versions of the Super Hornet – the single-seat E model and the two-seat F model – are able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

Boeing is expected to deliver the Block III test jets to the Navy as early as late spring, where subsequent testing will commence at both NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake.

This latest version of the Super Hornet includes an advanced cockpit system; advanced network infrastructure; reduced radar cross-section; and a 10,000-flight hour lifespan.

https://defence-blog.com/news/boein...0E2GgRP9VzALuh4ZSTWAbSau0-Xh7KyStH6UFGkChbuws

 

[Zarvan]

One hell off a beast mainly to answer China's improving and growing J 11 and J 16 series fleet

 

[Yousafzai_M]

What about F35 which were supposed to replace these?

 

[TheBlackCoat]

What about F35 which were supposed to replace these?

Both F35B & F35C have failed.

One hell off a beast mainly to answer China's improving and growing J 11 and J 16 series fleet

Too little. Too late.

Chinese have won the Pacific and on the way to winning Indian Ocean in the next 5 years.

US will be limited to Atlantic only.

 

[Prince Kassad]

One hell off a beast mainly to answer China's improving and growing J 11 and J 16 series fleet

Viper is more then enough for the j11 series, will need to study the j16

between zarvaan seeing you after a while, I remember few years back you were very active Indian defense section

 

[Zarvan]

Viper is more then enough for the j11 series, will need to study the j16

between zarvaan seeing you after a while, I remember few years back you were very active Indian defense section

I am here all the time. In fact I am 2nd largest poster here in this forum

 

[DJ_Viper]

What about F35 which were supposed to replace these?

F-35's have primarily joined the US marines and some with the Navy and AF also. However, they aren't going to replace the most modern blocks of F-18's and even F-15's and F-16's in existence. In fact, the USAF is now sending in the F-16 block 40 for upgrades with an AESA and AMRAAM-D integration and upgrades also.

 

[JohnWick]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1258758638379896836

U.S. aerospace giant Boeing announced on 8 May that first F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet test jet has rolled out of final assembly.

“Two of these test jets will head to the U.S. Navy, where they’ll help pilots familiarize themselves with the updated jets and be used in carrier flight tests,” the company said on Twitter.

The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet is the newest highly capable, affordable and available tactical aircraft in U.S. Navy inventory. The Super Hornet is the backbone of the U.S. Navy carrier air wing now and for decades to come.

The combat-proven Super Hornet delivers cutting-edge, next-generation multi-role strike fighter capability, outdistancing current and emerging threats well into the future. The Super Hornet has the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any country.

Two versions of the Super Hornet – the single-seat E model and the two-seat F model – are able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

Boeing is expected to deliver the Block III test jets to the Navy as early as late spring, where subsequent testing will commence at both NAS Patuxent River and Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake.

This latest version of the Super Hornet includes an advanced cockpit system; advanced network infrastructure; reduced radar cross-section; and a 10,000-flight hour lifespan.

https://defence-blog.com/news/boein...0E2GgRP9VzALuh4ZSTWAbSau0-Xh7KyStH6UFGkChbuws

@Deino @LKJ86 @Beast
any comments?

 

[striver44]

I don't see the conformal fuel tanks installed yet.

 

[Prince Kassad]

Nice to see our future jets.

 

[waz]

Nice to see our future jets.

Lol what?

 

[BATMAN]

One hell off a beast mainly to answer China's improving and growing J 11 and J 16 series fleet

WTF !

Viper is more then enough for the j11 series, will need to study the j16

WTF!

 

[Oldman1]

What about F35 which were supposed to replace these?

Not enough aircraft being produced. Lockheed was making about 100 aircraft a year, but the problem is that you have 3 different branches waiting for their aircraft and you have allies overseas waiting for their aircraft, obviously the U.S. Navy will not get them all, and they need replacements immediately. Hence the SH3.

I don't see the conformal fuel tanks installed yet.

They will put them on later, these are test aircraft for now. U.S. Navy is testing them.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

What about F35 which were supposed to replace these?

F18 Super Hornet replaces F14 Tomcat
F35 replaces A6...which due to delay was replaced with regular F18 Hornet.

 

[Imran Khan]

boeing lockheed and GE are some of the main reasons USA is ahead of world in aviation