Navy News Service 04/99 (Jan. 20, 1999)



NNS0403. First Super Hornet squadron ready to stand up
by NAS Lemoore Public Affairs
     LEMOORE, Calif. (NNS) - Strike Fighter Squadron
(VFA) 122 was established Jan. 15 at Naval Air Station
(NAS) Lemoore, Calif., as the Fleet Readiness Squadron
for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.
     When fully formed in 2002, VFA-122 will peak at
more than 500 personnel.
     The first phase of the fleet introduction of the
Super Hornet will be from 1999 to 2004, with the
addition of 92 F/A-18E/Fs to the Strike Fighter Wing at
NAS Lemoore. There will be one fleet replacement
squadron and four fleet operational squadrons to include
1,856 active duty personnel and 120 civilian employees.
In Phase I, the E and F models will begin replacing F-14
Tomcats.
     The second phase, extending to 2010, will replace
72 existing F/A-18C/Ds with the E/F model strike
fighter, which has increased mission radius/payload,
increased carrier recovery payload and improved
survivability.
 -USN-