Boeing unveils plans to end production of F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighter (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) said late last week it plans to end production in 2025 of one of the aircraft that is maintained in Jacksonville.
The Arlington, Virginia-based aerospace and defense company said it plans to wrap up production of its F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft in late 2025 following completion of final orders for the U.S. Navy. It said production could continue to 2027 if an international customer places orders for the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The company said the end of production of the F/A-18 Super Hornet will allow it to “redirect resources” to work on new military aircraft programs while also increasing production of other aircraft, including the T-7A Red Hawk for the U.S. Air Force to use for pilot training and its autonomous refueling drone, MQ-25 Stingray. Boeing said it has made more than 2,000 F/A-18 aircraft since 1983 and that it plans to continue to “develop advanced capabilities and upgrades” for the F/A-18 aircraft still in use.
“We are planning for our future, and building fighter aircraft is in our DNA,” said Steve Nordlund, Boeing air dominance vice president and St. Louis site leader, in a statement. “As we invest in and develop the next era of capability, we are applying the same innovation and expertise that made the F/A-18 a workhorse for the U.S. Navy and air forces around the world for nearly 40 years.”
A Boeing spokeswoman said about 1,500 employees work on the F/A-18 aircraft, with the majority based in St. Louis.
“Our F/A-18 employees are well suited to work on a variety of programs,” the spokeswoman said. “F/A-18 production continues through at least 2025, and maintenance and modification work will continue for decades.”
Boeing is in the process of expanding its Jacksonville operation. Last week, the company announced plans to break ground early next month on a new component operations facility at Cecil Airport that will help support one of the largest operations there.
The groundbreaking on the almost 150,000 square-foot facility to inspect, evaluate and repair composite and structural parts for military aircraft will take place March 9 at the facility site on Approach Road.
This facility is set to add additional jobs on top of hundreds already coming a part of the massive, $100 million maintenance, repair and overhaul facility that is being built at the site for Boeing. The main project, will consolidate eight hangars under a single roof, totaling about 270,000 square feet of hangar space with an additional 100,000 square feet of office space, where workers will support U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft.
Photo courtesy of Consumer Electronics Magazine