As Boeing seeks to market the F/A-18E/F Block Ⅲ in several countries, U.S. Navy officials are reviewing and could delete conformal fuel tanks from a package of upgrades planned for the latest version of the multirole fighter. The Block Ⅲ version of the F/A- 18E/F adds several new features, but one of the most critical and visible changes is the addition of shouldermounted conformal fuel tanks (CFT) that add 3,500 lb. of fuel capacity. In addition to improving range, the Navy previously said that replacing external fuel tanks mounted on pylons beneath the wings and fuselage with CFTs would lower drag and make the F/A-18E/F’s radar cross- section smaller. But the Navy’s testing on the CFTs since fiscal 2019 has raised concerns.
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