Boeing (NYSE:BA) said Wednesday it will move its F/A-18 Super Hornet Service Life Modification work out of the St. Louis region as part of a multi-year expansion and transition plan, with operations there set to sunset in 2027.
The company is evaluating several sites for the relocation, including San Antonio, Jacksonville and its existing partnership with the U.S. Navy at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego. Boeing already conducts SLM work at all three locations.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) said St. Louis will remain a key hub for its defense programs, including F-15EX, T-7A and MQ-25 production, as well as JDAM munitions. Current SLM employees will transition to these programs.
The SLM program upgrades Block II Super Hornets with Block III capabilities, extending service life by 4,000 flight hours. Work is expected to continue into the mid-2030s as the aircraft remains the backbone of the Navy’s strike fighter fleet.
About 3,200 machinists represented by IAM District 837 have been on strike since August 4, targeting Boeing’s (BA) defense-production facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Mo. and Mascoutah, Ill., where they assemble fighter jets, munitions and other military hardware.
Boeing (BA), however, asserts that its St. Louis-area sites remain open and that non-striking workers continue to maintain operations, as the company has moved forward with contingency plans to uphold productivity during the work stoppage.