The F/A-18 E/F acquisition program was an unparalleled success. The E is a single seat while the F is a two-seater. The newest models, the E and F were rolled out at McDonnell Douglas Sept. The B model is used primarily for training, while the D model is the current Navy aircraft for attack, tactical air control, forward air control and reconnaissance squadrons. The F/A-18A and C are single seat aircraft. The F/A-18 is a twin engine, mid-wing, multi-mission tactical aircraft. Hornets taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, recovering successfully, being repaired quickly, and flying again the next day proved the aircraft's survivability. The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities and versatility during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same mission, and breaking all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability. In its fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet air defense in its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction and close and deep air support. The F/A-18 Hornet, an all-weather aircraft, is used as an attack aircraft as well as a fighter. Compared to the original F/A-18 A through D models, Super Hornet has longer range, an aerial refueling capability, increased survivability/lethality and improved carrier suitability. The newest model, Super Hornet, is highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike. The Hornet comprises the aviation strike force for seven foreign customers including Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland. Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron proudly flies them. F/A-18 Hornets are currently operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide, and from 10 aircraft carriers. With its excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities, the F/A-18 at the same time increases strike mission survivability and supplements the F-14 Tomcat in fleet air defense. It was designed for traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet is the nation's first strike-fighter. Kuwait’s air force received the first 28 Eurofighter Typhoons in late 2021 following an $8.7 billion contract with Leonardo signed in 2017.All-weather fighter and attack aircraft. Know more: Boeing announced in February that it would end production of the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet variants by 2025 after a final sale to the US Navy. The proposed sale will improve Kuwait’s ability to meet current and future regional threats … will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” Tuesday’s press release said that the sale would "improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally that has been an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. In March, the US awarded Boeing a $70 million contract to provide logistics support for Kuwait’s new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets. It’s not immediately clear when Kuwait will put the new Super Hornets into service. Kuwait originally planned to put the new Super Hornets into service by last year, but that was pushed back, reportedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delays in upgrades to the Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, where the planes were to be housed. Why it matters: Kuwait has flown Boeing’s F/A-18C and F-18D Hornet since the 1990s, but has been phasing those planes out in favor of new F/A-18 E and F Super Hornets purchased from the US in 2016. The long-term support includes “F/A-18 avionics software upgrades engine component improvements ground support equipment engine and aircraft spares and repair parts publications and technical documentation,” and other forms of maintenance, engineering and logistical support. The State Department said in a press release that Kuwait is seeking "continuation of contractor engineering technical services contractor maintenance services Hush House (an enclosed, noise-suppressed aircraft jet engine testing facility) support services and Liaison Office Support.” The Biden administration notified Congress on Tuesday of a proposal to provide Kuwait with $1.8 billion in long-term support for its fleet of F/A-18 fighter jets.
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