The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Boeing [BA] a nearly $1.2 billion undefinitized contract action on Friday for long-lead engineering needed to develop the baseline configuration to build and deliver 22 F/A-18E and six F/A-18F Super Hornets to Kuwait.

This not-to-exceed value contract also covers long-lead radar warning receivers and aircraft armament equipment.

A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.  Photo: Boeing.
A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet. Photo: Boeing.

Work will largely occur in Hazelwood, Mo., Goleta, Calif., and El Segundo, Calif. It is expected to be finished by September 2022.

A Boeing spokesperson told Defense Daily that “Kuwait has taken the next step toward acquiring 28 advanced F/A-18 fighter aircraft.”

“We are honored to work with our Kuwaiti customer to bring them this important capability,” the company added.

Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds of $276 million were obligated at award time and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

In November 2016 the State Department approved a sale of 40 Super Hornets and associated equipment and training to Kuwait for $10.1 billion (Defense Daily, Nov. 18, 2016).

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said then that Kuwait will use the Super Hornets to supplement and eventually replace its legacy F/A-18C Hornet