For the first time, Boeing and the U.S. Navy flew an F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with an Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Block II pod in late 2019.

The F/A-18 Service Life Modification program has received its second contract to induct 12 jets. The program extends the life of existing Super Hornets from 6,000 to 10,000 flight hours. In 2023 the program will begin converting the jets into the new Block III configuration.

Boeing received a whopping $4 Billion U.S. Navy contract for multi-year procurement of 78 F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet strike fighters (61 single-seat E and 17 two-seat F), delivered through 2024.