Final LRIP 1 Super Hornet Delivered 6 Weeks Early

Submitted by the F/A-18 Public Affairs Office

The last of the first 12 low-rate initial production (LRIP) Super Hornets was delivered to the U.S. Navy on November 9, six weeks ahead of schedule. The single-seat E model aircraft's contractual delivery date was December 31. This aircraft, referred to as 'E13', follows in the footsteps of the other eleven LRIP 1 aircraft and was delivered on or ahead of the contractual delivery date.

The aircraft ferried to the Navy's F/A-18E/F Integrated Test Team (ITT) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, for final tests before it ferries to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. NAS Lemoore is the home to VFA-122 – the nation's first Super Hornet squadron. VFA-122 is a fleet readiness squadron responsible for aircrew and maintenance training.

This is the thirteenth E model - including five engineering and manufacturing development Super Hornets - built by the Hornet industry team of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Raytheon. Boeing builds the forward fuselage and wings, and conducts final assembly. Northrop Grumman Corp. is the principal airframe subcontractor, supplying the center and aft fuselage. General Electric Co. produces the engines, and Raytheon Co. provides the radar.

Production on the second lot of 20 LRIP Super Hornets, funded in the fiscal 1998 defense budget, is underway at Boeing and Northrop Grumman facilities. The funding for the 20 aircraft was authorized in the fiscal year 1998 defense budget. The Navy has so far contracted with Boeing for 62 aircraft. President Clinton's recent signature on the Fiscal 2000 Defense Appropriations Bill has granted the program approval for a multi-year procurement of an additional 222 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets over the next five years.