As part of Boeing’s expansion and transition plans to support future programmes, the company has announced it will relocate its F/A-18 Super Hornet Service Life Modification (SLM) work out of the St. Louis region, with operations there scheduled to conclude in 2027.
Boeing is currently assessing multiple sites for the transfer of this work, with case studies underway in San Antonio, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida. At present, the company carries out SLM activity in San Antonio and in collaboration with the U.S. Navy at the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego, California. Additional modification work on the F/A-18 also takes place in Jacksonville.
“Our expansion plans across the St. Louis site triggered the execution of a multi-year strategic plan, requiring the relocation of some work,” said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager of Air Dominance, and senior St. Louis site executive. “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 continue to play a central role in Boeing’s operations. It is home to production lines for the F-15EX fighter, the T-7A Red Hawk trainer, and the MQ-25 carrier-based refuelling aircraft, as well as JDAM and other munitions. In March, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that Boeing will design, build and deliver the F-47 sixth-generation fighter, ensuring that existing SLM team members will be able to support other high-profile programmes.
The Super Hornet remains the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s strike fighter inventory, and the SLM programme is crucial to maintaining fleet readiness. SLM upgrades aircraft with Block III capabilities and extends service life by 4,000 flight hours. Since the programme’s inception, Boeing and the Navy have increased the number of inductions each year, while at the same time improving turnaround times. The work is expected to continue into the mid-2030s, with all Block II Super Hornets eligible for upgrade to Block III standards.
