The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on Wednesday awarded Boeing [BA] a $220 million delivery order to design, develop, test, and integrate new conformal fuel tanks for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

This cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order procures non-recurring efforts associated with the work.

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

Conformal fuel tanks are additional tanks fitted close to the aircraft to extend its range or time in the air.

The Navy is awarding contracts for the F/A-18 E/F Block III, which features several upgrades over the Block II variant currently in use. This includes an updated Infrared Search and Track System (IRST), the newly awarded fuel tanks, new datalinks, and a new cockpit display.

The fuel tank award is expected to be finished by July 2022.