Boeing, US Navy begin tests on targeting system for Super Hornet fighter

CHINA LAKE, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) – The Boeing Company announced on Thursday that it has begun flight testing along the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-31 on a Distributed Targeting System for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet air strike fighter.

The current phase of testing will conclude in November 2011. The flight tests are undertaken at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Advanced Weapons Lab in China Lake, California. The aim of the new targeting system is to ensure that the Super Hornet remains ahead of current and emerging threats in the coming decades.

The Distributed Targeting System produces precise targeting solutions for Super Hornet aircrews by using onboard hardware and software processing. This new targeting capability is part of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Network Centric Warfare Upgrades program as well as the F/A-18E/F Flight Plan.

“Distributed Targeting is a powerful tool that will provide Super Hornet aircrews with highly precise targeting capability when identifying and engaging ground target sets. This is another phase of our evolutionary approach to continuous capability enhancement for the Navy’s combat-proven Super Hornet,” said Kory Mathews, F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs vice president for Boeing.

If the tests are successful, the new targeting system will transfer to operational testing in late 2011. It is expected that it will become operational in F/A-18E/F aircrafts in 2012.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions.

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