Studying Jacksonville, San Antonio For 2027 Move

Boeing announced it has begun the process of relocating its Service Life Modification work on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet away from the St. Louis area, with operations there scheduled to sunset in 2027. The move was anticipated and is part of Boeing’s expansion and transition plans in support of future programs in the Gateway City.

The company is evaluating several sites to perform the transferred work. Case studies are underway in San Antonio, Texas, where there is ongoing SLM work as well as at the U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego, California. F/A-18 modification work also is done in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dan Gillian, Vice President and General Manager of Air Dominance, and senior St. Louis site executive explained, “Our expansion plans across the St. Louis site triggered the execution of a multi-year strategic plan, requiring the relocation of some work. Given we are already successfully conducting SLM at other locations, this move is logical so we can continue to meet our customers’ commitments while ensuring we are well poised for future work.”

The St. Louis region will remain a core location for Boeing’s operations, with existing production lines manufacturing the F-15EX fighter, the T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft, and the MQ-25 carrier-based refueling unmanned aircraft. Munitions such as the JDAM and others are also made in St. Louis.

The Super Hornet forms the core of the Navy’s strike fighter capability and the SLM program is critical to maintaining its fleet readiness. The upgrades integrate Block III capabilities and extends service life by 4,000 flight hours. All Block II Super Hornets are eligible for the upgrades, and the work will continue into the 2030s.

FMI:  www.boeing.com/