SAN DIEGO –
In a landmark achievement that aligns directly with the 2025 National Defense Strategy’s call for a modernized and lethal Joint Force, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) has adopted a transformative approach to upgrading the F/A-18 Super Hornet, a critical milestone in continuous capability enhancements.
The upgrades, designed by Boeing and executed by FRCSW artisans and engineers under a public-private partnership with the aerospace manufacturer, mark the beginning of a comprehensive modernization campaign that will extend the lifespan and combat relevance of the Super Hornet fleet significantly. With an upgraded airframe, enhanced systems and extended 10,000-flight-hour service life, this initiative ensures the Navy will retain tactical air superiority in contested environments well into the 2030s.
As adversaries continue to modernize their military capabilities, the Department of Defense overall, and the Navy in particular, are responding by evolving their legacy platforms into more capable, networked and advanced systems. The Super Hornet upgrade embodies this approach. Some of the key capability enhancements include: improved situational awareness, targeting and tracking capabilities to ensure pilots can detect and engage threats with greater precision and at greater ranges; high speed and secure data sharing across multiple platforms, creating a truly networked combat environment; and structural reinforcements and system updates that extend the operational life of these vital assets, preserving the Navy’s investment and increasing fleet readiness.
FRCSW delivered the first upgraded aircraft to the fleet the week of May 19. This aircraft is the first of 10 that will undergo this effort at FRCSW over the next year.
“This is more than an upgrade; it’s a generational leap,” said Sam Filali, FRCSW Fleet Support Team lead. “We’re taking a trusted platform and transforming it into a modern, connected fighter that will meet the demands of future conflicts.”
The modernization of the F/A-18 Super Hornet directly supports the priorities set forth in the president’s National Defense Strategy, namely, “Delivering Lethality, Readiness and Warfighting.” As a command, FRCSW has surpassed aircraft production goals for eight consecutive years.
As the Navy accelerates toward a future that prioritizes distributed maritime operations and greater interoperability, FRCSW’s role as a key sustainment and modernization hub has never been more critical. Command employees deliver the products the men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps require to fight and win.
Written by Michael A. Furlano, public affairs officer for Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. 