Boeing offers F-18E/F Super Hornet for Denmark's New Combat Aircraft competition

St. Louis: Boeing and the US Navy delivered a proposal on 15 August to the Royal Danish Air Force offering the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as part of Denmark's New Combat Aircraft competition. This was in response to a Request for Information from Denmark in May.

The stated initial requirement is for 48 aircraft.

''The winner must present a good balance of capability, cost and risk and be able to provide Danish industry with a viable and competitive long-term partnership,'' said Dan Korte, vice president and general manager for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. ''We believe the Super Hornet is the best-value option and offers a winning solution for Denmark's fighter requirements.''

The Super Hornet variant offered to Denmark is based on the F/A-18E/F model flown by the US Navy and the 24 F/A-18Fs currently being produced for the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Block II Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter incorporating next-generation capabilities, including the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

''The Super Hornet has been a model acquisition program for the United States and the US Navy, one that has continued to add capability while decreasing cost over its lifetime,'' said US Navy Capt James Kennedy, F/A-18 International Business deputy programme manager. ''The Super Hornet, with its small logistics footprint and high mission-readiness rates, will stand well in the competition since it enhances effective deployment in international operations. With the AESA radar now fully on-board, the two-seat F/A-18F is providing unmatched aircrew situational awareness and taking air combat capabilities to new levels, as we can now seamlessly execute same-time air and ground missions. This is truly an aircraft that delivers tomorrow's capabilities today.''

Boeing has delivered more than 360 Super Hornets to the US Navy, all on or ahead of the original production delivery schedule.

Australia has ordered 24 Super Hornets to bolster its fleet of F/A-18 Hornets.

On 30 July Boeing delivered a proposal to the Brazilian Air Force offering 36 Super Hornets for Brazil's F-X2 fighter competition.

On 4 August Boeing submitted a comprehensive industrial-participation proposal to the government of India in support of the company's offer of 126 Super Hornets to the Indian Air Force for India's Medium range Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme.