Super Hornets to the Rescue! Again!

Finally some reason...

The Department of the Navy told Congress on Friday it plans to use the "multiyear authority" it was given if it could show that buying many planes together over several years would lower their costs. So the Pentagon will begin bargaining with Boeing to buy
the rest of the F/A-18 Super Hornets and E/A-18G Growlers in its program of record - some 124 aircraft - which guarantees work for Boeing until 2015.

The arrangement could mean the Navy pays about $500 million less for the planes than if it had continued buying batches every year on its current schedule, which calls for ordering sets of new fighters until fiscal year 2013...

..."The Department of Defense is taking essential steps toward a multi-year [contract] for 124 F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G aircraft," two top Pentagon officials wrote in a letter Friday to the Senate. "The Navy is in receipt of a viable offer from the F/A-18 prime contractor and is actively pursing award of the [F/A-18 multiyear contract] to achieve substantial savings."

Tom Harkin was thrilled with the decision made by the Navy enabled by his bill.

I commend Secretary Gates and (Navy) Secretary Mabus for seeing the light and moving forward with a multiyear contract.  A multiyear contract for F-18s saves the Navy and taxpayers over half a billion dollars, provides stability for the workforce in St. Louis, and is an important insurance policy as the Navy faces a large strike fighter shortfall.  It is encouraging to see the Navy and DoD come to their senses on this issue, after I have spent two years arguing that a multiyear contract made sense on all fronts,” said the Missouri lawmaker.

“This multiyear is the first step toward addressing the Navy’s fighter shortfall, but more needs to be done.  Super Hornets are fantastic planes that provide amazing capabilities for our Navy and are the most affordable fighter aircraft the DoD is currently buying.  The DoD should consider using the fantastic price provided by the multiyear contract to buy additional planes to reduce the Navy’s fighter gap” said Akin.

Amazing what can happen when you address the elephant in the room... or Rhino in this case!

Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Lieutenant Marques Jackson

Comments

[frank c. bonansinga]

Does TailHook honor Eugene Ely with an honoary TailHook membership as the first man to grab a wire?

If so I would be honored to join your outfit. frank c. bonansinga