Northrop Grumman Delivers 400th Fuselage Section for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered its 400th fuselage section for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the U.S. Navy's combat-proven multi-role strike fighter.

The fuselage "shipset," measuring nearly 30 feet long and 18 feet high, consists of the aircraft's center and aft fuselage sections, twin vertical tails and all associated subsystems. It was shipped earlier this month to The Boeing Company's F/A-18 production center in St. Louis, Mo., for final assembly and delivery to the Navy.

As principal F/A-18E/F subcontractor to Boeing, Northrop Grumman is responsible for design and production of the entire center and aft fuselage as well as subsystems integration and after-delivery product support. Northrop Grumman has now delivered 1,879 shipsets for all models of the F/A-18, including the F/A-18A-D Hornet and now the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.

"Delivery of the 400th Super Hornet shipset marks a significant achievement for Northrop Grumman and the dedicated employees who make it happen," said Michelle Scarpella, director of F/A-18 Programs for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "Every shipset carries our commitment to the men and women of the Navy to give them the best we have to offer."

The F/A-18E/F program accounts for more than 1,200 jobs at Northrop Grumman's El Segundo Manufacturing Center and more than 10,000 jobs in California at over 700 supplier companies. The entire Super Hornet industry team includes Boeing, Northrop Grumman, GE Aircraft Engines, the Raytheon Company and more than 1,400 suppliers in the United States and Canada.

Since the F/A-18E/F entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1999, every one has been delivered on time or ahead of its delivery schedule. With built-in versatility, the aircraft features a suite of integrated and networked systems that provide enhanced interoperability and total force support for the combatant commander and troops on the ground.

The U.S. Navy is expected to acquire a minimum of 506 Super Hornets and 88 EA-18G aircraft.

Both the Super Hornet single seat E and two-seat F models convert quickly from one mission type to the next with the flip of a switch to provide consistent air dominance:

*Day/night strikes with precision-guided weapons
*Anti-air warfare
*Fighter escort
*Close air support
*Suppression of enemy air defense
*Maritime strike
*Reconnaissance
*Forward air control
*Tanker
*Payload Flexibility

The Super Hornet's versatility applies to its weapon stations and payload types:

*11 weapon stations
*Supports a full complement of smart weapons, including laser-guided bombs
*Carries a full spectrum mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance

The Super Hornet is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines:

*Distinctive caret-shaped inlet to provide increased airflow and reduced
radar signature
*22,000 pounds (98 Kn) of thrust per engine, 44,000 pounds (196 Kn) per
aircraft

Flight qualities:

*Highly departure resistant through its operational flight envelope.
*Unlimited angle-of-attack and carefree flying qualities for highly effective
combat capability and ease of training.
*Reconfigurable digital flight-control system detects and corrects for battle
damage.
*Upgradeability
*Long-term designed in versatility ensures the Super Hornet's investment
value.

Current upgrades delivered in the Block Two configuration include:

*Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar
*Advanced targeting forward-looking infrared (ATFLIR) system
*Joint-helmet mounted cueing system (JHMCS)
*Multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS)
*Advanced aft crew station
*Fibre channel switch for increased data processing capability
*Fully integrated weapons systems and sensors for reduced crew workload
and increased capability.


The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet.

EA-18G Capabilities

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: The EA-18G will counter enemy air defenses using both reactive and pre-emptive jamming techniques.

Stand-off and Escort Jamming: The EA-18G will be highly effective in the traditional stand-off jamming mission, but with the speed and agility of a Super Hornet, it will also be effective in the escort role.

Non-Traditional Electronic Attack: Dramatically enhanced situational awareness and uninterrupted communications will enable the EA-18G to achieve a higher degree of integration with ground operations than has been previously achievable.

Self-protect and Time-Critical Strike Support: With its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, digital data links and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G will have self-protection capability and will also be effective for target identification and prosecution.

Growth: High commonality with the F/A-18E/F, nine available weapon stations and modern avionics enable cost-effective synergistic growth for both aircraft, setting the stage for continuous capability enhancement.

Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) Capabilities:

Full Spectrum: The EA-18G's ALQ-218 wideband receiver combined with the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System will be effective against any radar-guided surface-to-air threat.

Precision Airborne Electronic Attack: Selective-reactive technology enables the EA-18G to rapidly sense and locate threats with a significantly higher degree of accuracy than was previously possible. This improved accuracy enables greater concentration of energy against threats.

Advanced Communication Countermeasures: Its modular ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasure Set enables the EA-18G to counter a wide range of communication systems and is readily adaptable to an ever-changing threat spectrum.

Interference Cancellation System (INCANS): INCANS dramatically enhances aircrew situational awareness by enabling uninterrupted communications during jamming operations.

U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet






U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler

[metalfalcon]

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a Classic Example of Best Air Superiority Aircraft.

[nomi007]

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India is also choosing this jet,which will effect the region stability