US Navy Cuts Ties with Super Hornet as F-15EX Production Soars
The US Navy's F/A-18F Super Hornet production is set to end within months, while Congress has allocated funds to increase the production capacity of the F-15EX and have Boeing deliver the type through the 2030s.
The Navy will receive its last Super Hornets in the spring of 2027, after which the line will shut down. Northrop Grumman had completed the final batch of fuselage sections and vertical tails in January 2026, marking a major milestone in winding up production.
Multiple factors are driving the Super Hornet out of production, including Boeing's failure to secure new orders for the type abroad. The F-35A has proven more popular among foreign customers, who prefer its capabilities over the upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcons and the Super Hornets themselves.