U.S. Navy gets new F/A-18 simulators
By Gayle S. Putrich
July 02, 2009
The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of four of the first next-generation F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Tactical Operation Flight Trainers (TOFT).
The Boeing/L-3 Link Simulation & Training team delivered and completed installation and testing on two of the Block II TOFTs to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia and two more to Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, the companies announced June 9.
“These are the first Block II TOFTs, the new generation of trainers,” said Steven Dent, F/A-18 Training Systems manager for Boeing. “The Boeing/L-3 team is able to offer a high level of aircraft concurrency with these new devices.”

The new simulators reflect the recent upgrades to the Block II Super Hornets, including new sensors, avionics and the APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, which has been incrementally installed in the F/A-18 fleet since 2005.
The TOFTS are contracted by Boeing and built by Link in Arlington, Texas. The TOFTS include an instructor/operator station and both forward and aft crew stations, each with its own visual system. One brief/debrief station serves every two TOFTs.
A total of six more systems will be delivered to the two bases. Boeing officials said they expect to deliver the next two trainers in March 2010. If contract options are exercises, up to four additional trainers could be built.