The US has granted the contract to Boeing to supply integrated logistics assistance for the government of Kuwait in support of preparing Kuwaiti pilots for the delivery of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $70m contract to offer crucial general logistics aid for Kuwaiti pilots on the F/A-18E/F fighter aircraft. The agreement facilitates the introduction of the F/A-18E/F into the Kuwaiti armed forces as a strike fighter intended for conventional strike missions and air support.
Kuwait has previously utilized the aircraft for homeland defense but is phasing out its fleet of Hornet F/A-18C and F/A-18D planes. Tasks on the project encompass general logistics assistance, logistics program management, and logistics support during pilot training with Sniper advanced targeting pods (ATPs). The work will be conducted for three years and will help improve targeting capabilities. This contract will bolster Kuwait’s ability to counter regional threats and protect its borders and key infrastructure, according to the US.
GlobalData’s “Kuwait Defense Market 2022-2027” report states that the Kuwaiti Government is expected to host one of the largest US military airbases in the Middle East at an estimated cost of $32m. The construction of the new Cargo City will enable Kuwait to enhance the operational efficiency of its military and promote security and stability across Kuwait.
The 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent occupation by Iraq, which endured for nearly seven months, prompted Kuwait to concentrate on building a strong defense capability. Kuwait has since utilized its oil and gas export revenues to finance its defense acquisitions. Kuwait’s military fixed-wing market forecast is valued at $496m but is predicted to reach $1bn by 2026, according to GlobalData’s report “The Global Military Fixed-Wing Aircraft Market Forecast 2023-2033.” However, last month, Boeing revealed plans to terminate the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft production in late 2025.
Kuwait, Boeing, and the US’s three-way relationship dates back to the 1990s, as Kuwait procured military fixed-wing aircraft from Boeing. Presently, in Kuwait’s equipment inventory, Kuwait has 31 F/A-18C and eight F/A-18D, with both acquisitions occurring in the early 1990s following the invasion of Iraq. In September 2022, the US announced that it had authorized M1A2K tank ammunition sales to Kuwait.