F/A-18E Block III Super Hornet

The US Navy Block III Super Hornet is a further development of the Super Hornet aircraft allowing operations along with the F-35C stealth jet well beyond the 2030s. The Block III leverages some features from the F/A-18XT Advanced Super Hornet such as the Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) and the network centric capabilities. The Block III aircraft will enjoy of an airframe capable of 9,000 flight hours, improved stealth coating with minimized radar cross section, an inner-fuel tank mounted infrared search and track (Block II IRST) and high rate data-link. The new aircraft might be powered by more powerful engines and other advancements but it is unknown at this point. All in, the US Navy may use the Block III Super Hornet as a platform to engage stealth aircraft utilizing the Block II IRST to detect J-20 and Su-57 stealth jets at longer ranges than existing infrared systems. The US Navy plans call for the upgrade of 350 to 500 Block II Super Hornets to the Block III standard in the 2020-2030 timeframe. Besides, the US Navy may get roughly 120 new built Block III aircraft in the same period. First flight of the Block III Super Hornet is expected in 2019 or 2020 with an initial operational capability projected by 2022. The new jets will be responsible for conducting air-to-air engagements and strike missions.

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