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

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.