General Electric will provide logistics support for the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler over the next five years.

The US Navy has awarded a $2.87 billion contract to General Electric to keep the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler flying. 

The two aircraft, a fighter jet and an electronic warfare jet, respectively, continue to play an important role in the Navy’s air wings even when the F-35 Lighting II is steadily taking over.  

Engine Support for the Super Hornet and Growler Fleet  

Under the contract, General Electric will “provide logistics support for 17 F414 engine components.” The engine components will go to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleet. The contract specifies that work should be completed by August 2031 and must not exceed the ceiling price specified. 

The F414-GE turbofan engine can produce 22,000 lbs of thrust. The F/A-18E/F and EA-18G each have two engines, so their combined thrust is nearly 45,000 lbs.  

“The F414 offers unrestricted engine performance on demand with rapid engine throttle response and zero throttle restrictions. Excellent afterburner light and stability ensure extra thrust is ready on demand when needed,” General Electric states about the engine.  

Besides the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G, the F414-GE and its variants power the JAS 39 Gripen and the Tejas LCA. 

The F/A-18 Super Hornet: The Backbone of US Naval Aviation

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole fighter jet designed for aircraft carrier operations. Until the arrival of the F-35B/C Lighting II stealth fighter jet, the F/A-18E/F was the main aircraft in the Navy’s and Marine Corps air wings. Today, there is a gradual change of guard with an increasingly larger number of squadrons shifting to the cutting-edge F-35. 

• Year Introduced: 1999 
• Number Built: Over 600 (including exports to Australia and Kuwait) 
• Length: 60.3 ft (18.5 m) 
• Wingspan: 44.9 ft (13.6 m) 
• Weight (Maximum Take Off): ~66,000 lbs (29,900 kg) 
• Engines: Two GE F414-GE-400 turbofans (~44,000 lbs, ~19,955 kg total thrust) 
• Top Speed: ~1,190 mph (1,915 km/h) / Mach 1.8) 
• Range: 575 miles (~500 nautical miles, 926 km) 
• Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,200 m) 
• Armament: ~18,000 lbs of weapons, including AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Harpoon anti-ship missile 
• Crew: 1 (E version) or 2 (F version)  

The Navy plans on keeping the F/A-18E/F in service at least until the middle of the century.

The EA-18G Growler: The Navy’s Premier Electronic Warfare Aircraft  

The Boeing EA-18G Growler, which is a specialized variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, is the US military’s premier airborne electronic attack aircraft. The Navy uses it to attack enemy radar and communication systems, paving the way for fighter jets, attack aircraft, and bombers to strike their targets.  

• Year Introduced: 2009 
• Number Built: ~170 (US & Australia) 
• Length: ~60.3 ft (18.5 m) 
• Wingspan: ~44.9 ft (13.6 m) 
• Weight (Maximum Take Off): ~66,000 lbs (29,900 kg) 
• Engines: Two GE F414-GE-400 turbofans (~44,000 lbs, ~19,955 kg total thrust) 
• Top Speed: ~1,190 mph (1,915 km/h; Mach 1.8) 
• Range: ferry: ~1,465 miles (~1,275 nautical miles, 2,360 km); combat radius: 575 miles (~500 nautical miles, 930 km); 
• Service Ceiling: ~50,000 ft (15,200 m) 
• Armament: Typically two AIM-120 AMRAAM and two AIM-9X for self-defense; electronic-attack pods 
• Electronic Systems: AN/ALQ-218 receiver suite; ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods; communications jammers; SIGINT sensors; advanced datalinks 
• Crew: 2 (pilot + electronic warfare officer) 

The Navy plans to keep the EA-18G around at least into the late 2040s. 

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou   

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP. 

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