The USS Harry S. Truman witnessed one of the most bizarre incidents in recent times. According to an announcement by the US Navy, an F/A-18 fighter jet rolled of the side of the iconic aircraft carrier and landed at the bottom of the Red Sea. At the time of the incident, there was one crew member aboard the aircraft, with another one aboard the tractor.
No lives were lost as both the crew members were able to jump out in time. However, one of them has suffered minor injuries, the US Navy stated.
How much does the aircraft cost?
A state-of-the-art aircraft like this F/A-18 fighter jet is nearly priced at $70 million, according to ABC News.
Other F-18 models, like the Block III Super Hornets that are even more advanced, cost somewhere around a billion dollars.
In 2024, the US Navy locked a deal for these latest aircrafts from Boeing, according to a USNI News report.
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According to a report by the US Government Accountability Office back from 1977, single original F/A 18 is priced somewhere at $13 million. The reports' highlights read, “The Navy plans to produce 800 F-18 aircraft: 430 fighters, 310 attack aircraft, and 60 two-seat trainers. The F-18 Naval Strike Fighter Program will cost about $13 billion for development and production. Unit procurement cost was estimated at $13.7 million on September 30, 1976.”
If inflation metrics are considered, the current prices of the Super Hornet lie somewhere at a whopping $72 million. However, this amount comes while ignoring all the state-of-the-art tech that has been added over recent times.
Will the F-18 Super Hornets be replaced?
It has been more than 25 years now that the F-18 Super Hornet has been in service of the US Navy. It is a fourth generation stealth jet, may have chances of being replaced by a sixth-generation jet, in all likelihood, suggest reports. However, in a NAVAIR press release from March 2024, Rear Admiral John Lemmon had stated, “The Super Hornet remains a predominant aircraft in the carrier air wing and will continue to provide significant combat capability into the 2040s.” From the statement, it can be understood that the F-18 fleets may still be a strong part of the US Navy for more than a decade to come.
It has been more than 25 years now that the F-18 Super Hornet has been in service of the US Navy. It is a fourth generation stealth jet, may have chances of being replaced by a sixth-generation jet, in all likelihood, suggest reports. However, in a NAVAIR press release from March 2024, Rear Admiral John Lemmon had stated, “The Super Hornet remains a predominant aircraft in the carrier air wing and will continue to provide significant combat capability into the 2040s.” From the statement, it can be understood that the F-18 fleets may still be a strong part of the US Navy for more than a decade to come.