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. The Navy in FY2006 also began procuring the EA-18G Growler, an electronic attack (i.e., electronic warfare) version of the Super Hornet. 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. Some Members of Congress are interested in the option of procuring 18 F/A-18E/Fs in FY2010 (the number projected for FY2010 under the FY2009 budget), rather than nine (the number requested in the FY2010 budget), so as to make a start toward mitigating the projected strike fighter shortfall. Some Members of Congress are also interested in approving a new MYP arrangement for procuring Super Hornets and Growlers in FY2010-FY2014, so as to further mitigate the shortfall and reduce the collective procurement cost of the aircraft. The appendix presents material relating to the Navy-Marine Corps 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
- Jul 22, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA503280
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress