The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Australia for F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft training and related support.
The package, valued at $250 million, covers non-major defense equipment: classified and unclassified aircrew and maintenance training; protective personnel equipment; US government and contractor technical and logistics support services; and other related program support.
There is no principal contractor associated with the sale. Training will instead be provided by the US government or contract vendors as requirements are determined.
According to the notice, the case originated as an $18-million package and was subsequently amended in 2015 and 2018 to expand training and support.
The agency said that Congress should have been notified of the 2018 amendment after the case exceeded the notification threshold.
However, the oversight was not discovered until Canberra requested a further amendment.
Australian Aircraft
The proposed sale is intended to strengthen the capabilities of Australia — which the notice described as “one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific” — and improve interoperability with US and allied forces.
The Royal Australian Air Force operates a fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets, a multi-role aircraft deployed for air interception, air combat, and close air support.
Meanwhile, the air force keeps a fleet of around 12 EA-18G Growlers that complement the F/A-18F and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
Australia is also the only military operator of the advanced electronic attack aircraft outside of the US.
Canberra began accepting the aircraft’s Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band pods from Raytheon in April this year, intending to replace the Growler’s aging AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System.
