Boeing Delivery of RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets Completed

Four new Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Super Hornet fleet at RAAF Base Amberley today, completing delivery of all 24 RAAF Super Hornets ahead of contract schedule.

The arrival at the base was marked by the four new Super Hornets joining 16 other RAAF F/A-18Fs for a dramatic 20-aircraft flyover. The final four aircraft of an order of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets for the RAAF arrived at their Amberley home base west of Brisbane on Friday

"The Super Hornet provides a major advancement in capability for the RAAF and the entire Australian Defence Force," said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing. "The F/A-18F employs the world’s most advanced combat radar, ensuring our forces have a clear advantage in both technology and capability, whether conducting air, ground or maritime operations.

"The Super Hornet's ability to collect and seamlessly distribute information to our other platforms is proving to be invaluable as a true force multiplier," Roberton added.

"Boeing made a commitment to the Royal Australian Air Force, and to the citizens and government of Australia, promising that these advanced Super Hornets would be ready to join the RAAF fleet on time and on budget," said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "The men and women of Boeing are incredibly proud to have delivered on that promise."

"The joint efforts between Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team have been absolutely paramount in the success of this program," said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing. "With that success, these Super Hornets, and the advanced capabilities they deliver, are now ready to meet Australia's defense requirements today and into the future."

The Australian government announced plans in March 2007 to acquire 24 advanced Block II versions of the F model Super Hornet, which features a two-person cockpit. The first five RAAF Super Hornets arrived at Amberley on March 26, 2010. Today's ceremony marks the fifth and final contracted RAAF Super Hornet delivery.

Minister Clare said the Super Hornet would maintain Australia’s air combat capability until the arrival of the F-35 JSF later this decade. “The Super Hornet gives us the fire power we need to protect Australian skies until the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter later this decade. Today we know that until that day comes we are in good hands.”

Clare also gave credit for the acquisition to former coalition Defence Minister Brendan Nelson. “I also pay credit to the former Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson who made the decision to buy these planes, when the success of today was not so easy to see,” he said. “The Super Hornets would not be in Australia if not for the decision that he made four-and-a-half years ago.”

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has not ruled out a further purchase of additional Super Hornets, but will wait until the tabling of the government’s Force Posture Review early next year, as well as various schedule and budgetry reviews into the JSF program currenty underway in the US.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, 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 has delivered more than 470 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 64,000 employees worldwide.


Source: AMBERLEY, Queensland, Oct. 21, 2011 -- http://boeing.mediaroom.com -- http://australianaviation.com.au

Photo: 21 Oct 2011, Boeing Completes Delivery of RAAF Super Hornets Ahead of Schedule. The arrival at the base was marked by the four new Super Hornets joining 16 other RAAF F/A-18Fs for a dramatic 20-aircraft flyover.

The historic 20 ship formation flight. (Andrew McLaughlin http://australianaviation.com.au)

Part of the mass Super Hornet formation flypast over southeast Queensland. (Dept of Defence)

(21.10.2011)