Boeing Plans to Keep Super Hornet Line Open After Positive Signs From Congress, International Customers

Boeing is taking steps to keep its F-18 production line open for future Navy and international sales based on positive signs from multiple sources, the company told USNI News.

The company builds both its F/A-18F Super Hornets and F-18G Growlers on the same production line, and the last planes the company had sold were 15 Growlers in Fiscal Year 2015 – enough work to keep the line open through the end of 2017, after the Navy and Boeing agreed to a production slowdown to allow more time for a decision on the future of the production line.

In March, Dan Gillian, Boeing’s F/A-18 vice president and program manager, told USNI News that the company would need to make a decision by mid-year as to whether it would begin buying long lead materials for future planes or begin preparations to close the production line.

Read more