Procurement Group Topic PresentationProcurement Group Topic Presentation

The USN and USMC The USN and USMC Procurement of F/A-18 Procurement of F/A-18 HornetHornet

Mark SeeberMark SeeberBen WiltsieBen WiltsieJohn AuneJohn Aune

Fall 2004, University of MinnesotaFall 2004, University of Minnesota

Procurement Management Procurement Management ProcessesProcesses

Procurement PlanningProcurement PlanningSolicitation PlanningSolicitation PlanningSolicitationSolicitationSource SelectionSource SelectionContract AdministrationContract AdministrationContract Close-outContract Close-out

F/A-18 Hornet OverviewF/A-18 Hornet OverviewFirst of the “digital” warplanesFirst of the “digital” warplanesUsed by the Navy and MarinesUsed by the Navy and MarinesCapable of air-to-air and air-to-surface Capable of air-to-air and air-to-surface missionsmissionsInstrumental in Persian Gulf and Balkan Instrumental in Persian Gulf and Balkan campaignscampaigns

F/A-18 Procurement F/A-18 Procurement PlanningPlanning

What?What? Low-cost Multi-role attack fighterLow-cost Multi-role attack fighter Carrier borne/Forward airstripCarrier borne/Forward airstrip Replacement for F-4, A-7, and A-4Replacement for F-4, A-7, and A-4

When?When? Operational by early 1980’sOperational by early 1980’s

F/A-18 Solicitation F/A-18 Solicitation PlanningPlanning

Product RequirementsProduct Requirements NACF (Naval Air Combat Fighter) Competition NACF (Naval Air Combat Fighter) Competition

Requirements issued September 1974Requirements issued September 1974

Identify Potential SourcesIdentify Potential Sources Competitors from ACF Competition 1972 expected Competitors from ACF Competition 1972 expected

to enter aircraft for evaluationto enter aircraft for evaluation

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria Aircraft tested and compared against current Aircraft tested and compared against current

aircraft and competition requirementsaircraft and competition requirements

F/A-18 SolicitationF/A-18 SolicitationObtaining bids, offers, and proposalsObtaining bids, offers, and proposals House Armed Services Committee, USN, House Armed Services Committee, USN,

and USMC announced NCAF competition and USMC announced NCAF competition in September 1974in September 1974

McDonnell-Douglas/Northrop entered the McDonnell-Douglas/Northrop entered the YF-17, General Dynamics/LTV entered the YF-17, General Dynamics/LTV entered the YF-16YF-16

F/A-18 Source SelectionF/A-18 Source SelectionChoosing potential supplierChoosing potential supplierEvaluationEvaluation Navy liked YF-17’s twin engines and Navy liked YF-17’s twin engines and

greater mission capabilitygreater mission capability

Awarding of ContractAwarding of Contract McDonnell-Douglas YF-17 selected as McDonnell-Douglas YF-17 selected as

USN and USMC’s new strike-fighter 2 May USN and USMC’s new strike-fighter 2 May 19751975

F/A-18 Contract F/A-18 Contract AdministrationAdministration

Managing relationship with supplierManaging relationship with supplierContract modificationsContract modifications Airframe went through such significant Airframe went through such significant

modification its name was changed from modification its name was changed from YF-17 to F-18YF-17 to F-18

3 different models ordered initially3 different models ordered initially Fighter and Attack models merged to Fighter and Attack models merged to

create the F/A-18create the F/A-18

F/A-18 Contract F/A-18 Contract Close-outClose-out

CompletionCompletion First delivery in 1981First delivery in 1981 Operational in 1983Operational in 1983

ConclusionConclusionF/A-18 has performed excellently in F/A-18 has performed excellently in combat situationscombat situationsFirst combat mission 1986 in LibyaFirst combat mission 1986 in LibyaIntegral part of both Persian Gulf Integral part of both Persian Gulf campaignscampaignsUsed extensively in Bosnia and Used extensively in Bosnia and KosovoKosovo

F/A-18 has been developed further to F/A-18 has been developed further to create the F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet”create the F/A-18E/F “Super Hornet”USN plans to procure 548 of these new USN plans to procure 548 of these new modelsmodelsF/A-18 is used widespread throughout F/A-18 is used widespread throughout the world by foreign Air Forcesthe world by foreign Air Forces

SourcesSourceshttp://home.hetnet.nl/~wetting/index.htmlhttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-18-history.htmhttp://www.voodoo.cz/hornet/http://pma265.navair.navy.mil/http://frenchnavy.free.fr/aircraft/hornet/hornet.htmhttp://home.att.net/~jbaugher4/f18_1.html