Commander Naval Air Forces wants more F/A-18s

Military aircraft - Post cold war aircraft, including for example B-2, Gripen, F-18E/F Super Hornet, Rafale, and Typhoon.
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by spazsinbad » 27 Oct 2018, 16:04

GAO Denies Raytheon Next Generation Jammer Protest; Navy Signs Contracts with L3, Northrop
26 Oct 2018 Sam LaGrone

"...The gradual introduction of the NGJ systems onto U.S. and Australian Boeing EA-18G Growlers will initially augment the ALQ-99 before eventually replacing the legacy capability, according to NAVAIR.

Breaking Defense defense reported Capt. Michael Orr said early iterations of the system would begin aerial testing next year and the entire system was set to reach an initial operational capability sometime in 2022."

Source: https://news.usni.org/2018/10/26/gao-de ... 3-northrop


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by marsavian » 17 Jan 2019, 19:42

SpudmanWP wrote:Here is Raytheon's RACR install on a Classic Hornet.



Northrop's SABR could be done similiarly as it is a "drop in" unit for the F-16.


Raytheon win the USMC contract.

https://www.janes.com/article/85782/ray ... aesa-radar

Raytheon has been selected by the US Marine Corps (USMC) to replace the radars of its Boeing F/A-18 legacy Hornets with a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) system.

The company announced on 15 January that it will fit its AN/APG-79(V)4 AESA radar to equip the USMC's F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet, replacing its own AN/APG-73. Deliveries will run from 2020 through to 2022. No contract value was disclosed.

As noted by Raytheon, the AN/APG-79(V)4 is a scaled version of the AN/APG-79 AESA radar already fitted to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, and shares 90% commonality for synergies in maintenance and support. The USMC will benefit from the same global sustainment and upgrade path already in place for the AN/APG-79.

Jane's first reported the USMC's plans to upgrade the radar on its Hornets when the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued a request for information (RFI) in March 2018. At that time it was noted that the change to an AESA system was needed due to the increased reliability and sustainability requirements, as well as the associated capability improvements.

According to NAVAIR, 98 AESAs are to be procured to cover seven fleet squadrons of 12 aircraft each as well as 14 spare systems.

The US Navy and USMC together field 617 F/A-18 Hornets, comprising 95 F/A-18A, 21 F/A-18B, 370 F/A-18C, and 131 F/A-18D aircraft. These aircraft were built to last up to 6,000 flight hours, although many have already achieved 8,000 hours through a variety of sustainment efforts and continue to have sufficient operational availability.


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by mixelflick » 19 Jan 2019, 14:53

"The US Navy and USMC together field 617 F/A-18 Hornets, comprising 95 F/A-18A, 21 F/A-18B, 370 F/A-18C, and 131 F/A-18D aircraft. These aircraft were built to last up to 6,000 flight hours, although many have already achieved 8,000 hours through a variety of sustainment efforts and continue to have sufficient operational availability... "

Mercifully, the F-35C acquisition process has started. It's just a pity it won't be a 1:1 replacement with the Hornet/SH and thus, significant numbers of SH's will live on. I hope to live to see the day the F/A-XX completely banishes Hornets from our decks, but it's a real longshot.

The Navy is in love with this airframe, and politicians have been all too generous in doling out their corporate welfare to Boeing...


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by count_to_10 » 19 Jan 2019, 17:19

I will admit that I could be totally clueless on this, but since when has the classic hornet been referred to as “F/A”? I thought that was reserved for the super.
Also, why are we upgrading classic hornets? Arn’t they on the way out?
Einstein got it backward: one cannot prevent a war without preparing for it.

Uncertainty: Learn it, love it, live it.


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by spazsinbad » 19 Jan 2019, 17:49

count_to_10 wrote:I will admit that I could be totally clueless on this, but since when has the classic hornet been referred to as “F/A”? I thought that was reserved for the super. Also, why are we upgrading classic hornets? Arn’t they on the way out?

Would you believe USN NATOPS? http://www.filefactory.com/file/71ms9x4 ... Manual.pdf

USMC will operate Classics for some time whilst USN gifts unwanted F/A-18s to them to operate from CVNs by agreement.
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by quicksilver » 19 Jan 2019, 17:52



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by usnvo » 19 Jan 2019, 20:24

mixelflick wrote: The Navy is in love with this airframe, and politicians have been all too generous in doling out their corporate welfare to Boeing...


If this is corporate welfare, it is to Raytheon


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by SpudmanWP » 20 Jan 2019, 00:01

usnvo wrote:
mixelflick wrote: The Navy is in love with this airframe, and politicians have been all too generous in doling out their corporate welfare to Boeing...


If this is corporate welfare, it is to Raytheon

How so? They are not going to buy a whole jet for just the sake of the radar's mfg.

Besides, Raytheon has plenty of other radar customers to keep them busy.
"The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese."


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by optimist » 20 Jan 2019, 01:07

My take on it..It's for the USMC hornets, that the marines are keeping till the f-35b replaces them. As everyone knows that timeline was shot and USMC refused to buy super hornets. They are dealing with obsolescence and end of life issues. The AESA for the classic hornet and superhorner block 1 has been waiting for a customer. It has been offered for about 10 years that I know of
Europe's fighters been decided. Not a Eurocanard, it's the F-35 (or insert derogatory term) Count the European countries with it.


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by wrightwing » 20 Jan 2019, 01:40

AESAs will help keep legacy Hornets relevant, until they can be replaced. It's a great bang for the buck upgrade.


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by madrat » 20 Jan 2019, 04:09

Surely you could market it to Canada since they are hellbent of keeping Legacy Hornet.

Otherwise the market is drying up, fast.


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by steve2267 » 20 Jan 2019, 22:34

madrat wrote:Surely you could market it to Canada since they are hellbent of keeping Legacy Hornet.

Otherwise the market is drying up, fast.


No no no no!

You sell the replaced AN/APG-73 radar sets to Canaduh(!) so that they have proper spare parts for their legacy jets. The Marines get to offset the cost of the upgrades, Canaduh get's spare parts... It's a win, win! It would be YUGE!
Take an F-16, stir in A-7, dollop of F-117, gob of F-22, dash of F/A-18, sprinkle with AV-8B, stir well + bake. Whaddya get? F-35.


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by madrat » 21 Jan 2019, 00:13

I got some spare parts out behind my shed. If I label the junk perhaps they would buy it, too. Essentially Canada is buying everyone's garbage.


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by spazsinbad » 22 Jan 2019, 22:33

Marines' Classic Hornet Jets to Get Upgraded Radar
22 Jan 2019 Oriana Pawlyk

"The U.S. Marine Corps' F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter fleet is getting a radar upgrade. The service selected Raytheon Co. to upgrade the aircraft to the APG-79(v)4 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, according to a company announcement. The radar is a scaled version of the APG-79 AESA, which has been integrated into Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. The APG-79 gives pilots additional situational awareness, high-performance targeting and extended range. A contract amount was not disclosed....

...The AESA radar helps achieve better performance during air-to-ground missions, company officials said....

...The APG-79(v)4 radar also enhances maritime strike capabilities, the release said. U.S. Naval Air Systems Command submitted a request for the improved radar in March, according to Janes. NAVAIR intends to upgrade seven squadrons of 12 aircraft each with 98 new radars, plus 14 spare systems, Janes reported at the time.

"Because the APG-79(v)4 shares more than 90 percent commonality with the APG-79, the Marine Corps will benefit from the same global sustainment and upgrade path already in place for the system," Raytheon officials said.

Deliveries will begin next year and are expected to be completed by 2022. The upgrade announcement comes as both the Navy and Marine Corps plan to sustain and supply their aging aircraft fleets with new technologies."

Source: https://www.military.com/defensetech/20 ... radar.html


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by Corsair1963 » 23 Jan 2019, 00:27

I guess the USMC have money to burn. As by time they upgrade all of the Hornets with the APG-79's. They will start to retire them.... :?


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