Aerospace

Boeing to stop production of F/A-18 Super Hornet jets in 2025.

Boeing, U.S. Navy Demonstrate Manned-Unmanned Teaming with Super Hornet Flight Tests

Boeing may close the F/A 18 production unit by 2025. The Super Hornet fighter aircraft is one of the most successful fighters in US history, having served in the military for over four decades plus. It intends to end manufacturing of the F/A-18 Super Hornet in late 2025, when the last of the fighter jets have been delivered, as the aerospace giant changes its focus to winning the race for sixth-generation combat aircraft.

If India places an order for the F/A 18 fighter jet, the production schedule will be extended until 2027. After the F/A 18 production is completed, the manufacturing facility will be used for other Boeing products such as the T-7A Red Hawk, MQ 25 and F15, and 777x wing components.

Boeing is reallocating resources to future military aircraft projects: Boeing intends to construct three new state-of-the-art facilities in St. Louis to support work on the next generation of advanced crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Modernization and upgrade initiatives will be prioritized: Boeing will continue to develop enhanced capabilities and improvements for the global F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets. All Block II Super Hornets in Service Life Modification will get the Block III capability suite during the following decade. As part of the ongoing Growler improvements, Boeing will continue to incorporate sophisticated electronic attack capability.

The facility will be used to ramp up production of critical new defense programs, including the T-7A Red Hawk, the world’s first all-digital training system, and the MQ-25 Stingray, the world’s first carrier-deployed autonomous refueling aircraft, in addition to the ongoing production of new F-15EX Eagle IIs and 777X wing components.

Boeing has delivered almost 2,000 Hornets, Super Hornets, and EA-18G Growlers to clients throughout the world, including the United States Navy, Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland since the F/A-18 debuted in 1983.

Presently, Boeing has offered India the Navy version fighter jet. It also demonstrated the best capabilities of the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and was displayed at Aero India 2023.

The aircraft played an important role in US defense, and it was upgraded with the most advanced avionics and armament systems.

Aerospace

When Ratan Tata was denied entry to the airfield at the Aero India show, he waited

During our visit to Aero India 2019, we had the unexpected opportunity to see Ratan Tata at the event, which was a thrilling moment for us. However, there was a surprising hiccup when the security staff didn’t allow him to enter due to a lack of a security pass.

Despite this, he remained calm and patiently waited for about 20 minutes until a member of the Tata team brought him the required pass, after which he calmly proceeded inside. It was a humbling sight, showcasing his composed demeanor even in such situations.

Ratan Tata ji is not only a renowned industrialist but also a trained pilot, holding a pilot’s license. In 2007, he became the first Indian civilian to fly the F-16 Falcon during the Aero India show in Bangalore—a proud moment for the nation.

His passion for aviation extended beyond flying, as he played a key role in shaping India’s aerospace industry. Under his leadership, Tata ventured into manufacturing and maintaining aerospace components while upholding its legacy of quality. Notably, Tata’s collaboration with Airbus to develop and manufacture the C295 aircraft is a testament to its growing influence in the sector.