| Prime contractors:
- L-3 Communications MAS Inc (Canada) for Structural Refurbishment Program 2, which includes non-recurring Engineering/Modification and Product Installation
- Boeing Australia Ltd for Structural Refurbishment Program 1 Delta, Production Installation Program
- Boeing Systems Australia for Structural Refurbishment Program 1 Delta, Production Installation Program
This Phase is the second stage of a multi-stage structural refurbishment program for the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet fleet. This phase provides for up to 49 centre barrel replacements with low rate initial production to be carried out in Mirabel, Canada.
This phase involves some additional discrete structural modifications on the majority of aircraft and the centre barrel replacement on selected aircraft. The centre barrel is the primary load baring structure in the fuselage for the transfer of high flight loads from the wings to the fuselage and is the most significant component of the Hornet airframe in terms of aircraft life.
An initiative taken by the Defence Materiel Organisation and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation has now determined that the centre barrel structures of the aircraft are not as fatigued as originally anticipated. This could reduce the number of Hornet aircraft requiring replacement of the fuselage centre barrel from 49 to 10.
The leading edge fatigue testing and analysis conducted by DSTO has shown that the actual life of the Hornet centre barrels is 10 percent, or 2 years, greater than originally certified.
The refurbishment project’s first Structural Refurbishment Program 2 prototype is complete and has returned to service. The second prototype is underway at the L-3 MAS facility in Mirabel, Canada. Low rate initial production has commenced with the first two aircraft inducted in February 2008 with full rate production due to commence in late 2008.
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