The Navy has begun "pre-milestone A activities" for an aircraft platform -- or a collection of manned or unmanned platforms -- that will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, according to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. In written testimony submitted prior to the House Appropriations defense subcommittee's March 1 hearing on the Navy budget, Mabus acknowledged that the Navy will need to replace its Super Hornet fleet in the far term, and initial activities "are underway to define the follow-on F/A-XX aircraft."...
