On Super Hornets, McCaskill & Colleagues Urge Funding for 16 Aircraft in Defense Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill--along with a bipartisan group of colleagues--urged the leaders of the Armed Services Committees to recognize the critical national security importance of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and authorize the 16 aircraft requested by the Navy as they hammer out the annual defense bill, which sets the nation's defense funding and priorities.

"The United States Navy can only meet our country's national security needs if we provide our servicemen and women the weapons systems required to get the job done," wrote McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with her colleagues. "For this reason, we are pleased that the House of Representatives passed an NDAA which reflects the current shortfall in Naval tactical aviation and authorizes the procurement of 16 F/A-18 E/F's. Unfortunately, the Senate-passed NDAA authorized only two F/A-18E/Fs… while larger topline budget issues will have to be resolved between the two committees, if sufficient funding is available, we urge you to include authorization in the final bill for 16 F/A-18E/Fs aircraft to address the Navy's top unfunded requirement and the national security needs of the United States."

In May, a key Senate panel approved the annual defense bill, which included language shaped by McCaskill, including provisions to provide resources for new F/A-18 Super Hornets for the Navy, and to fully fund the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in St. Louis. Last year's defense bill shaped by McCaskill included funding for the Super Hornets that matched the Navy's request contained in its "unfunded requirements list." The Navy continues to rely on the F/A-18 Super Hornet due in part to massive delays and cost overruns in the F-35 program.

In its fiscal year 2017 budget request, the Navy requested two Super Hornets. The Navy also listed 14 additional Super Hornets as their number one unfunded priority requirement. The Senate-passed defense bill authorized the two Super Hornets contained in the Navy budget request, and the House of Representatives' version included the two Super Hornets as well as the 14 Super Hornets on the unfunded requirements list.

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