Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
The Navy has been procuring F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters since FY1997. Super Hornets and older F/A-19A/B/C/D Hornets currently account for the majority of the aircraft in the Navy's 10 active-duty aircraft carrier air wings (CVWs) -- of the 70 or so aircraft in each CVW, more than 40 typically are Hornets and Super Hornets. The Navy in FY2006 also began procuring the EA-18G Growler, an electronic attack version of the Super Hornet. Growlers are replacing the older Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft. Super Hornets and Growlers were procured in FY2005-FY2009 under a multiyear procurement (MYP) arrangement. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests about $1.0 billion for the procurement of nine F/A-18E/Fs. The Navy's FY2009 budget had projected that 18 F/A-18E/Fs would be requested in FY2010. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget also requests about $1.6 billion for the procurement of 22 EA-18Gs. The Navy's proposed FY2010 budget does not request a third MYP arrangement for procuring F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs in FY2010-FY2014. The Navy's FY2010 request for nine F/A-18E/Fs comes in the context of a projected shortfall in Navy and Marine Corps strike fighters. Estimates of the extent of the shortfall vary, with the peak of the shortfall ranging from 125 aircraft by one estimate to 243 or more aircraft according to other estimates. Some Members of Congress are interested in the option of procuring 18 F/A-18E/Fs in FY2010, rather than nine, so as to make a start toward mitigating the projected strike fighter shortfall. Other Members are interested in approving a new MYP arrangement for procuring Super Hornets and Growlers in FY2010-FY2014, so as to further mitigate the shortfall. The appendix presents material relating to the strike fighter shortfall and F/A-18E/F procurement from a May 19, 2009, hearing on naval aviation programs before the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 29, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA501034
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress