U S Navy to scrap 140 FA-18s

[eagle driver]

Credit to Namar for link
U.S. Navy to scrap scores of fighter jets from its inventory

By: David B. Larter
Navy Times

March 6, 2018

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is moving to scrap almost 140 older Hornet fighters from its inventory and accelerate the transition to newer Super Hornet models in a bid to cut the costs of maintaining old aircraft that have seen hard use over two decades of continuous combat operations.

The Navy projects it will recoup the better part of a billion dollars over the next five years, money used to fund other readiness initiatives both in the beleaguered Naval Aviation Enterprise and elsewhere.

The plan, hashed out in June, is to strike F/A-18 “A” through “D” models for a total of 136 Hornets, 66 of which will be gone by the end of 2020.

“Two strike board reviews with Fleet, CNO, and NAVAIR personnel determined that 136 aircraft could be authorized for strike because their effective life was consumed and would require significant repair,” said Lt. Lauren Chatmas, a Navy spokeswoman. “The Navy will strike these aircraft over the course of fiscal years 2017 and 2020.”

The Navy thinks this is an opportunity to get some usable spare parts for the in-service jets and help the Marine Corps by sending it the best of the remaining aircraft.

“The decision was based upon readiness risk of existing F/A-18 A-D inventory, long-term operational costs versus gain in capability, and the potential to improve USMC readiness by transferring best-of-breed aircraft to the USMC,” Chatmas said.

The plan recoups about $124 million in 2019 and $852 million across the five-year budget projection, Chatmas said. Four squadrons flying legacy Hornets will transition to the newer versions between now and the end of 2019, she said.

The Navy has been buying batches of Hornets in recent years to replace the ones that are at the end of their service lives. The service has been slow to buy its F-35C, citing development issues.

The Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, will have to sit tight with its legacy Hornets until there are enough “E” or “F” versions available to spare, Chatmas said.

[tonkatom]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

[Vulcanone]

After the USN has stricken them I suspect there won't be much left of them.

[toom317]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

And what would we fly them off?

[Contrail1958]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

And what would we fly them off?

We could Base them at Leuchars if they were Black and White.

[Dazza37]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

What for? They'd be utterly useless to the Royal Navy!

-Dazza

[Agent K]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

I'm not sure we'd want to take any "of" the Americans hands, especially if they're tiny Donald Trump ones.....

[toom317]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

And what would we fly them off?

We could Base them at Leuchars if they were Black and White.

Might as well do what they did with the Phantom, and hand them over to the RAF to defend the fleet. AND, we could make it 43 Sqn.

[eagle driver]

Rather than 43Sqn how about making it 74 Sqn then we could have a tiger Sqn which actually has some teeth.

[filmman]

Looking ahead we might well need some RN jets, with a decent range/payload, to provide top cover when the non-mothballed attempt of a carrier is unavailable. At least our tankers can tank FA-18s, unlike the P-8s. Hang on I have a cunning idea, sell our "carriers" and buy lots of land based Super Hornets to use with our tanker support. The rest of what's left of the Navy can then do something else more useful than "carrier" protection.
Filmman

[Agent K]

There were those who also mocked the through deck cruiser back in it's early days. It matured in to quite an effective capability.........

[lozza]

Would be nice for the Royal Navy to take a few dozen of the Americans hands!

So where do you intend they land them

[PR9]

They'll be cream crackered.

[Rob666]

Forget the Hornets why don't we take back the Harriers sat at DM!

Rob

[toom317]

Rather than 43Sqn how about making it 74 Sqn then we could have a tiger Sqn which actually has some teeth.

No, 43 Sqn.

[Nighthawke]

Full 56 Sqn Firebirds scheme would be even nicer

[bizfreeq]

Forget the Hornets why don't we take back the Harriers sat at DM!

Rob

Yeah good luck with that one! They don't even qualify as empty shells let alone viable airframes

[Agent K]

Forget the Hornets why don't we take back the Harriers sat at DM!

Rob

I think you'll find the US didn't buy them to be ornaments sat in the desert year on year, ready to hand back to the British military if needed! I doubt there'd but much if anything of use left.

[Sparts99]

Full 56 Sqn Firebirds scheme would be even nicer

yeah I'd like that, or 19, or 92. We can dream.

[the concerned]

They would make a great asset for the private contractors to buy as red.air adversaries