ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Navy and its industry partners marked the 500th delivery of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft during a celebration at the Boeing facility here today.

“Today is another significant milestone for a program that has by any measure exceeded expectations for cost, schedule and performance. The PMA-265/Hornet Industry Team has consistently delivered capable and reliable aircraft to our fleet customer,” said Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager (PMA-265).

Industry partners Northrop Grumman, General Electric Aircraft Engines and Raytheon also attended the ceremony. Northrop Grumman builds the aft and center fuselage portion of the airframe and provides the ALQ-218 AEA system for the Growler, while GE Aircraft Engines manufactures the F414 engine. Raytheon produces the APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, multiple racks and launchers and the ALR-67V(3) Radar Warning System.

“Today the Department of the Navy is employing more than 1,100 Legacy Hornets, Super Hornets and Growlers supporting operations world-wide, demonstrating exceptional flexibility across several mission areas and geographic locations,” Darrah said.

Built on the nation’s first multi-mission strike fighter, the Hornet, the F/A-18 Super Hornet and continues to give the operational commander more flexibility in employing tactical aircraft in rapidly changing scenarios. The Airborne Electronic Attack EA-18G Growler recently began its first deployment supporting overseas operations.

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