Advanced Super Hornet Leader's Brief from Boeing Defense...

As many of you know, Boeing has launched a full scale assault on the F-35 (especially with the US Navy but I suspect with many others around the world) and while I begged on bended knee for them to give me a copy of the White Paper that's suppose to be floating around, but they refused.

They did give what I'm calling a "leader's brief" on the Advanced Super Hornet. Why is this important?  Because if you've taken time to read the latest defense budget documents then you would have noticed that the Navy is still in the hurt locker with regard to its ship maintenance program.
Simply put, there are too many needs for too little money and the F-35 is sucking up all the oxygen in budgets around the world.  Check out the brief below.

Block III F/A-18 Advanced Super Hornet Capabilities
Boeing has worked closely with the Navy to address the strike fighter shortfall as well as to ensure the air wing has the capabilities needed to win in the 2020s and beyond.

The strike fighter shortfall solution – working to get the right capacity of aircraft to the carrier air wings – includes both new production aircraft and a robust service life modification program (SLM) to extend and modernize the Super Hornet fleet.

To address the capabilities needed in the air wing as early as the 2020s, Boeing has also developed the Block III Super Hornet to complement existing and future air wing capabilities.  Block III is the same aircraft as Advanced Super Hornet.

These capabilities can be both built into new aircraft and incorporated into existing aircraft during SLM, allowing maximum ability to field these capabilities quickly and affordably.  Block III Super Hornet is built from the same airframe as Block II, providing low risk development and maintaining the lowest operating costs of any U.S. tactical fighter.  While Boeing demonstrated advanced Super Hornet capabilities in flight in 2013, the package of upgrades has evolved to best complement F-35, EA-18G and E-2D as they will be operating together in the air wing well into the 2040s.

Key features of Block III Super Hornet:
       
*  Enhanced network capability with a system that improves computing power (DTP-N), network throughput (TTNT) and sensor/platform integration, allowing large amounts of data on and off the airplane and making F/A-18 a smart node on the network.  It also has the increased ability to receive targeting information from platforms like the F-35, EA-18G and the E-2D Hawkeye.

*  Longer range with low-drag, stealthy conformal fuel tanks.  The

shoulder-mounted tanks can carry 3,500 pounds of fuel and reduce drag, allowing the aircraft to operate longer, go faster, and/or carry more weight.

*  Long-range detection with Infrared Search & Track (IRST). The long-range sensor can detect and target threats without having to depend on radar, generating a multi-ship, common tactical picture at long range and allowing the Super Hornet to operate as a smart sensor node on the network
       
*  Enhanced situational awareness with a new Advanced Cockpit System.  A new 10 x 19 inch touchscreen display provides the pilot with the capability to see, track and target multiple long range targets generated by the common tactical picture.
     
*  Improved signature with low observable next generation radar cross section for increased survivability.
9,000+ hour life for reduced life cycle costs by incorporating design changes into production aircraft based on lessons learned from the Service Life Analysis Program

Is it just my imagination or does it seem like they're trying to sell the entire package that they developed to the Navy and not a few bits and pieces from the A.S.H.?

Doesn't really matter.

The full buy of F-35's ain't gonna happen.  The Pentagon, LM, the USAF and Marine Corps all know this.

The F-35 fan club asked for a plan B if the F-35 didn't work as advertised...well here it is!