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This article is about the F-18 Super Hornet, which Boeing manufactures. However I think it's interesting to note that the F-18 and F-15 were both designed by M
by Eelongate 5y ago
This article is about the F-18 Super Hornet, which Boeing manufactures. However I think it's interesting to note that the F-18 and F-15 were both designed by McDonnell Douglas. The last time Boeing designed a successful fighter jet on their own was never.
- missedthecue 5y agoTanker and bomber aircraft complimented their business better. Those products have been fantastically successful.
- nradov 5y agoThat had been true, but the recent KC-46 tanker is far from successful.
- ethbr0 5y agoThe KC-46 is somewhere at $5B in losses to Boeing (the USAF wrote the program contract defensively, for once) and years behind schedule. And as for bombers, Northrop Grumman is at the pole position with the B-21 Raider contract. The B-52 will be flying forever, but that can't be a major revenue win for Boeing. The F/A-18E/F is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the Navy (and Air Force) are both starting up new fighter programs (aka Next Generation Air Dominance, separate for each service).
- missedthecue 5y agoThe maintenance contracts on the B-52s alone are worth tens of billions of dollars. And like you pointed out, they're going to keep renewing those contracts for decades to come.
- ethbr0 5y agoYes, but there are apparently 76 active + 18 reserve. And notably only used by the USAF. That's a lot of planes, and a huge contract, but it's not a recipe for growth.
- Jeema101 5y agoTrue but they just introduced their very successful piston-engined P-26 fighter [1] a mere 89 years ago. Barely even had time to design a follow up! /s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-26_Peashooter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-26_Peashooter