Aviation

Boeing awarded $200m contract to support F/A-18E/F aircraft production

A $200 million modification contract has been awarded to Boeing for the purchase of crucial long lead material and related activities necessary to construct F/A-18E/F aircraft.

The contract adjustment intends to maintain the manufacturing schedule, with work anticipated to be finished by June 2025. The contract is supervised by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland.

The US Navy has granted Boeing, which has its main office in St. Louis, Missouri, a $200 million contract modification. By obtaining essential long-lead material and making related efforts, the modification intends to support the manufacture of F/A-18E/F aircraft.

The Super Hornets’ fuselage sections are constructed in El Segundo, California, by Boeing subcontractor Northrop Grumman before being shipped to Boeing’s Missouri aircraft facility, where about 70% of the contract will be carried out.

The Super Hornets’ long-term deal comes after Congress increased funding for the Navy’s Super Hornets by 20 over the previous two fiscal years: $977 million for 12 in the fiscal year 2022 and $600 million for eight in the fiscal year 2023.

This agreement demonstrates the US Navy’s dedication to keeping the F/A-18E/F aircraft in service even as it develops the F/A-XX programme. As both the US Navy and Boeing attempt to balance the expenses of the Next Generation Air Dominance programme and existing platforms, it may also suggest that the manufacture of the aircraft won’t end as soon as previously anticipated.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly