Boeing F/A-18

By Steve Trimble
Top Navy officials remain confident in the affordability and design requirements for the F/A-XX as Air Force leaders consider their own next-generation fighter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Naval Air Systems Command said in a statement that initial testing has been completed and the Navy will continue to test updates as necessary.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
The service hopes to progress on F/A-18, T-45 and MH-60 replacements, though ship- and submarine-building requirements are likely to take priority.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The upgrade by incumbent supplier BAE Systems will allow both fighters to integrate undisclosed new functions, BAE said.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
The winner of the Advanced Electronic Warfare suite will replace the F/A-18E/F’s existing system, which combines subsystems supplied by both companies.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
China’s military has released an image of a Xian H-6K bomber carrying up to four air-launched ballistic missiles, doubling its previously acknowledged capacity.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
A wave of new orders and investments in capabilities is giving Eurofighter a “golden moment.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Sweden plans to contribute to NATO air missions including the Baltic Air Policing operation performed by allies from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Canada's procurement agency plans to fast-track its new fighter training program, awarding a contract within three years and introducing the jet by 2030.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Finnish F/A-18 Hornets have deployed to Romania’s Mihail Kogălniceanu AB, where they will be on QRA duty alongside UK RAF Eurofighter Typhoons.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
BAE Systems has confirmed a months-old contract award to develop a new decoy system that is intended to replace the towed decoys flown on some Navy fighters.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble
A recent simulator test shows that a U.S. Navy fighter pilot will be able to command an MQ-25 Stingray to start the aerial refueling process.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Navy’s drastic cut to its next-generation fighter was a conscious decision to deal with congressionally imposed budget cuts.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Navy and Boeing have resolved an impasse on intellectual property and data rights around the F/A-18 which will extend production for about two years.
Aircraft & Propulsion

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2024 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Air Force flight-related incidents increased in 2023, while Navy and Marine Corps rates stayed steady.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Yemen’s Houthi movement could face military action after ignoring warnings from international governments over ongoing drone and missile attacks.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
This marks the second extension of the Air Combat and Electronic Attack Sustainment contract, which initially came into effect in July 2016.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Despite the conflict in Gaza, the Middle East’s military modernization is continuing.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble, Tony Osborne, Brian Everstine
An ongoing software problem haunts Lockheed Martin’s production and modernization agenda for the F-35 as a raft of new competitors hit key milestones in 2024.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Most fighter aircraft made in the U.S. are in line to get improved radar warning receivers and self-protection jammers.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

New-build deliveries of fighter aircraft are expected to eclipse 5,000 airframes globally, for a total value of nearly $460 billion USD. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is expected to capture 34% of that total.
Aerospace_Daily_departments

By Steve Trimble
The 250-lb. Munition — also known as Small Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB-II) — reached the early operational capability milestone with the Navy in October.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
CVN 73 aims to shake off its reputation from prolonged maintenance and bring new capabilities to the Pacific.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Advanced Electronic Warfare program seeks to replace the original L3Harris ALQ-214 self-defense jammer and the Raytheon ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare