Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Andrew Doyle/BRATISLAVA
The US Navy has indicated that it will make the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet available for foreign military sales once the fighter has completed its operational test and evaluation (Opeval).
Release of the new fighter for export is becoming increasingly urgent for Boeing as it tries to fill the vacuum left by the impending shutdown of the F/A-18C/D production line. The company wants to bid the F/A-18E/F in upcoming fighter competitions in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
"Pending successful completion of Opeval, the Super Hornet may be available for sale internationally," says the F/A-18 programme office. Testing at China Lake began in late May, using seven low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft, and is to be concluded by November.
Boeing had hoped an order from Chile would keep the C/D in production to offer to eastern Europe. But a cut in the Chilean requirement has made it uneconomic to restart production after the last US Marine Corps Hornet is delivered in 2000.
Poland has given Boeing until 30 June to respond to a request for information (RFI) for 60 fighters for delivery from 2006. The Czech Republic has also issued an RFI covering up to 36 aircraft from 2004, with a response deadline of late September. Formal requests for proposals could come before the end of this year and selections made in 2000. Hungary is not expected to decide before 2003.
Until the aircraft receives export clearance, Boeing is limited in the amount of data it can supply to Poland and the Czech Republic. The US Navy has confirmed that it has received and approved export licence requests for the manufacturer to conduct briefings. Information has already been supplied to Chile in place of a revalidated C/D tender.
The US Navy cannot provide key price and availability data before a decision on full rate production in March next year. Since 1997, planning has been based on the procurement of 548 aircraft, of which 62 LRIP aircraft have been ordered.
"Aircraft cost is affected by a number of things - aircraft quantity, single-year procurement versus multi-year authorisation, and aircraft configuration," says the navy.
The first F/A-18E/F export version is not expected to be ready until 2005 at the earliest.
Source: Flight International
