The Commonwealth has signed a three year contract with Boeing to support the RAAF’s 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets in service.
The contract is valued at about $20 million per year and will provide 74 jobs at RAAF Amberley, most of whom will be Boeing Defence Australia employees.
“Under the contract the Boeing Company will provide engineering, supply chain management and maintenance services to support F/A-18F Super Hornet operations,” Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, said. “The contract is vital for effective support of the RAAF’s fleet of Super Hornets when they arrive at RAAF Amberley early next year.”
Boeing supports the US Navy Super Hornet fleet of more than 400 aircraft through its F/A-18 Integrated Readiness Support Teaming (FIRST) , and it is believed the RAAF arrangement will be a modified version of this program.
The first four RAAF Super Hornets are due to be delivered in late March with the remainder to follow until late 2011. Full operational capability is due to be achieved in late 2012.
