Boeing Awarded Navy Contract to Shut Down Jet Lines
The $16.7 million agreement covers the winding down of F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler production.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Manufacturing
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The US Navy has awarded Boeing a $16.7 million contract to manage the orderly shutdown of its F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler production lines. This move follows the manufacturer's decision to halt production after failing to secure new international orders for the aircraft.
Why it matters
The contract ensures a structured conclusion to the decades-long production of these naval aircraft. Boeing plans to transition its workforce to other aviation programs as it completes its final existing orders.
The contract for shutdown support is valued at $16.7 million, while a separate agreement for 17 Block III Super Hornets is worth $1.3 billion. Work on the shutdown will be concentrated in St. Louis, Missouri, which accounts for 60% of the project.
The players
Boeing
An American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles.
US Navy
The maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces that is responsible for naval operations.
The details
Boeing is tasked with inventorying government-owned production equipment and providing disposition recommendations to the Navy. The company will pivot its St. Louis workforce toward manufacturing the F-15EX, T-7A, and MQ-25 aircraft.
Timeline
November 29, 1995: The Super Hornet made its maiden flight.
January 1999: The US Navy began receiving deliveries of Super Hornets.
2023: Boeing officially announced it would halt production of the Super Hornet.
2027: The final delivery of the current Super Hornet order is expected.
November 2030: The production line shutdown contract is scheduled for completion.
Market Landscape
This shutdown marks the end of a primary naval platform's production life, closing a chapter that began with the Super Hornet's 1995 debut. The transition positions Boeing to focus on newer military platforms like the F-15EX and the MQ-25 as the global market shifts toward next-generation tactical aircraft.
While this shutdown does not impact retail product pricing, it signals a significant change in the industrial output of Boeing's St. Louis facility. Employees and local suppliers connected to the F/A-18 and Growler programs will be shifting their focus to new aircraft projects over the coming years.
The takeaway
The closure of these lines reflects the standard lifecycle of military aviation platforms as they are phased out for newer technology. Boeing's ability to pivot its workforce to other programs is essential to maintaining its role as a major defense contractor.
Further reading
Learn more about the shifting industrial landscape in the Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News.
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