How good is this L.M F-18

I see amongst all our messes currently ongoing in the UK at the moment, we've just put in a huge trillion Dollar order for a whole bunch of F-18's (various models)from the U.S. company Lockhead-Martin

Given that these things were the first to be designed/built/AND programmed and tested by Lockhead-Martin directly, and there are already questions being asked as to the wisdom of that decision in the U.S.(orinarily they like a separate company to do the programming)
How good are they ?

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Scubaguy027 · 46-50, M

I think you are thinking of the F-35. Boeing builds the F/A-18.

1GHOST · M

@Scubaguy027

RoleMultirole fighter
National originUnited States
Manufacturer

McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997)
Boeing (1997–present)
Northrop (1974–1994)

Scubaguy027 · 46-50, M

@1GHOST that part about Northrop isn't exactly right. They built some sub assemblies for it. The original plan was for Northrop to build a land based fighter only version with MD building a Naval fighter and attack version. Ultimately it became just the F/A-18.

1GHOST · M

@Scubaguy027 Mechanics loaded the aircraft's first bulkhead components into place July 10 on Northrop Grumman's state-of-the-art F/A-18 assembly line in El Segundo. The government of Australia is purchasing 24 F/A-18Fs from the United States in the first international procurement of the Super Hornet. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is already in service with the U.S. Navy as its combat-proven strike fighter.

As principal subcontractor to The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman is responsible for design and production of the F/A-18E/F's center/aft fuselage section and twin vertical tails, integration of all associated subsystems and after-delivery product support. (The "E" model has one cockpit seat; the "F" has two.) Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 1,800 of these fuselage "shipsets."

"This F/A-18 shipset will be built with the same high level of quality as every one we've produced since the program began more than 30 years ago," said George Vardoulakis, vice president of F/A-18 Programs for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "That's a commitment our employees are proud to make, day in and day out, to the men and women in combat who rely on this capable aircraft."

Northrop Grumman's first RAAF shipset will be delivered in April 2009 for final assembly at Boeing's facility in St. Louis, Mo. Australia was one of the original international users of the F/A-18A/B, the first version of the Hornet. Northrop Grumman also has produced structural assemblies for the RAAF's earlier Hornets as part of a capability upgrade program.