The maker of the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet would like to convince the Navy that its should buy more of the E/F models of the Hornet to fill its shortage of carrier strike aircraft until the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter comes on board, reports Roxana Tiron of The Hill. Boeing plans to push the issue with Congress and the sea service, which projects a shortfall of some 226 strike aircraft over the next 10 to 15 years, for the next budget. Boeing’s F/A-18 vice president, Bob Gower, told the Congressional newspaper that a new Navy analysis could set the stage for a Super Hornet multiyear buy.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.