Deal for Super Hornets looking good
WASHINGTON — According to sources, a key House panel tomorrow likely will deliver good news to Boeing and the St. Louis workforce when it advances legislation to purchase more F/A-18 Super Hornets for the Navy.
Congressional approval of military aircraft used to be a rather ordinary event. But that was before the Pentagon began looking harder at its needs and before Defense Secretary Robert Gates started preferring the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the F-18.
But Congress has something to say about all tof his, and today the House Armed Services Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee appears set to pass along a multi-year request for Navy aircraft that includes the F-18s.
While no numbers of planes are mentioned, a multi-year request typically is for five years and 150 aircraft.
To look a head a bit, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Ike Skelton, is a Missourian and also someone who typically lines up with his subcommittee chairs. That means it’s looking good for Super Hornets in the House, which leaves the Senate as the remaining obstacle.
Rep. Todd Akin, of Town & Country, is the ranking Republican on that subcommittee and a big advocate of the Super Hornets. He has argued in recent weeks that the Navy and Marine Corps already have a shortfall of strike-fighter aircraft, which will grow to more than 100 in the next several years.
According to Boeing, the Super Hornet line employees about 5,000 workes from the St. Louis region.
Can anyone tell us when the F-35C will be ready for the USN? No. Can anyone tell us how much the F-35C will cost teh USN? No. Can anyone tell us how much watered down requirements the F-35C will need to “meet all requirements”? No.
The F-35C is still imaginary. Tests are waiting to begin. Waiting. Waiting. Years off schedule. Billions over budget. But the USAF has to take it, and the only means to get the USAF the aircraft at affordable prices is to force the USN to accept the F-35C.
When the F-35C has proven itself. When the F-35C has made developmental changes, as all aircraft must. When Lockheed honors the price they bid to win the contract. Then and only then should the F-35C be funded for production. Until then. The proven, developed, affordable F/A-18E/F should fill the gap Lockheed’s delays have caused.