The Boeing Co., based in St. Louis, Missouri, has been granted a $70,704,608 cost-plus-fixed-fee reimbursable contract to supply integrated logistics assistance for the Kuwaiti government to aid in preparing Kuwaiti pilots for the arrival of Kuwait F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The support will encompass general logistics assistance; logistics program administration; logistical support for aircraft during pilot training within the continental U.S. (CONUS); maintenance of aircraft, aircraft weaponry equipment, F414 engines, and Sniper pods; logistics representative support within the CONUS, as well as ferry support both within and outside the CONUS; packaging, handling, storage, and transportation; and program security tasks. Work is anticipated to be finished by September 2026.
In May 2015, the Kuwait Air Force was reportedly planning to order 28 F/A-18E/Fs with options for an additional 12. However, in June 2015, it was reported that Kuwait was considering a split purchase between the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F/A-18E/F. On 11 September 2015, Kuwait signed an agreement for 28 Eurofighters. In November 2016, a proposed Kuwaiti sale of 32 F/A-18E and 8 F/A-18F fighters, armaments, and associated equipment was approved by the U.S. State Department and Congress was notified.
In June 2018, the Kuwaiti Government ordered 22 F/A-18Es and 6 F/A-18Fs through a US$1.5 billion contract. All aircraft were scheduled to be delivered by January 2021, but were later rescheduled to be delivered in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants originating from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet series. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more sophisticated versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet.
The Super Hornet features an internal 20mm M61A2 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and various other weapons. Additional fuel can be transported in up to five external fuel tanks, and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air-to-air refueling system.