Ukraine and its supporters say Western fighter jets are necessary to tip the balance in Ukraine’s favor, while allowing for close air support. “When compared with F/A-18C/Ds of the same age, the Super Hornet fleet has had lower availability rates." The Navy will conduct a pregame flyover with three tactical aircraft squadrons for Super Bowl LVII. The Super Hornet suffered an engine fire in August 2022 and was repaired aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. The Pentagon plans to spend about $100 billion in the next five years to modernize its tactical aviation fleets. No one was injured in either of the Class A mishaps last month. The aircraft, which fell overboard as the carrier completed an at-sea replenishment July 8, was pulled from a depth of roughly 9,500 feet. No injuries or deaths have been reported due to the issue, according to the Navy. The State Department cleared a possible foreign military sale of 96 Raytheon-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles to the Netherlands in a deal estimated to be worth $1.2 billion. One sailor sustained minor injuries due to the "unexpected heavy weather," the Navy said. Load More