The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $33,105,737 firm-fixed-price contract to procure 53 distributed targeting processor-networked (DTP-N) B-kits; 44 DTP-N A1-kits; and 19 DTP-N A2 kits in support of DTP-N full-rate production to implement anti-surface warfare capability in the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft for the U.S. Navy and government of Australia. Fiscal 2021 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $ 21,740,453; and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $11,365,284 will be obligated at the time of award. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
DTP-N is a high-performance data and signal processing computer that bridges gaps between onboard and external data networks in real time. DTP-N reduces pilot workload by providing actionable information, and not just data, to the warfighter on the large-area display. It has the power to compute algorithms quickly to deal with the complex battlespace of the future. It provides performance scalability, technology insertion and functional growth capability for F/A-18 aircraft.
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The Super Hornet entered fleet service with the United States Navy in 1999, replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which was retired in 2006; the Super Hornet has served alongside the original Hornet. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which has operated the F/A-18A as its main fighter since 1984, ordered the F/A-18F in 2007 to replace its aging General Dynamics F-111C fleet. RAAF Super Hornets entered service in December 2010.
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler’s electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the US Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased twelve EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.
