The current issue of AW&ST tells of GE's plans to upgrade the F414 engine by (a) increasing total thrust by 20% (~4,400lbs) & (b) reducing fuel burn by 3%. The same article says that the USN has funded the upgrade program but there are no announced plans at present for the Navy to acquire the upgrade - which can be retro-fitted to existing F414 engines. WTF?! The article says the upgraded engine will be used primarily for the export sales market. Double WTF?! I guess this is so we'll have the 2nd best Hornets in use around the world.
Although after my time, the Navy gave the F-14 10 more years of service life w/ a new engine, FLIR and other air-to-mud upgrades. We would be crazy not to do the same with the Super Hornet. According to AW&ST's annual inventory isue, the Navy still has 100 F-18A&B's (virtually usless a/c). Since the F-35 won't likely get to the fleet before 2015, why doesn't the Navy buy another 120 or so Super Hornets & retro fit the upgraded engine into every E & F model in the inventory?
Maybe others smarter & more current than I can shed some light on this issue.
Although after my time, the Navy gave the F-14 10 more years of service life w/ a new engine, FLIR and other air-to-mud upgrades. We would be crazy not to do the same with the Super Hornet. According to AW&ST's annual inventory isue, the Navy still has 100 F-18A&B's (virtually usless a/c). Since the F-35 won't likely get to the fleet before 2015, why doesn't the Navy buy another 120 or so Super Hornets & retro fit the upgraded engine into every E & F model in the inventory?
Maybe others smarter & more current than I can shed some light on this issue.