Raytheon Secures $372 Million Contract for Enhancements to Super Hornet and Growler Aircraft

Ratifying a landmark deal, Raytheon Intelligence and Space, El Segundo, California, is awarded a $372,137,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides for updates, improvements, and enhancements of tactical capabilities, sensor instrumentation, and instrumentation integration efforts in support of F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler software bricks. Work is expected to be completed in June 2028. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Awarded $372 Million Order for Upgraded Super Hornet and Growler Aircraft

Few companies know the Super Hornet and the Growler as well as Raytheon Technologies, whose businesses provide it with precision warfare weapons, radars, sensors, avionics, and other systems. And the company employs many former fighter pilots who know firsthand what the aircraft can do. That could include air superiority, close air support, reconnaissance, fighter escort, strike, suppression of enemy air defenses and forward air control. And often means deploying from and returning to an aircraft carrier. And of course maintaining flight performance despite being targeted by the radars and other sensors on board. Several of them come from Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to the USS Carl Vinson breaks away from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron after conducting in-air refueling over the Western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet series. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet boasts the ability to outperform enemy jamming as well as the traditional standoff jamming mission (Radar jamming and deception). The F/A-18’s power comes from its ability to use the information gathered by the radars and other sensors on board. Several of them come from Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The Growler’s flight performance is similar to that of the F/A-18E/F. This attribute enables the Growler to perform electronic jamming as well as the traditional standoff jamming mission (Radar jamming and deception). The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler’s electronic warfare capabilities are primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the U.S. Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased a contingent of EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.

Two F/A-18E Super Hornets assigned to the Knighthawks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 prepare for a catapult shot from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). (U.S. Navy photo by Damon J. Moritz/Released)