News

Navy News Service 04/99 (Jan. 20, 1999) NNS0403. First Super Hornet squadron ready to stand up by NAS Lemoore Public Affairs LEMOORE, Calif. (NNS) - Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 was established Jan. 15 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Calif., as the Fleet Readiness Squadron for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter. When fully formed in 2002, VFA-122 will peak at more than 500 personnel. The first phase of the fleet introduction of the Super Hornet will be from 1999 to 2004, with the addition of 92 F/A-18E/Fs to the Strike Fighter Wing at NAS Lemoore. There will be one fleet replacement squadron and four fleet operational squadrons to include 1,856 active duty personnel and 120 civilian employees. In Phase I, the E and F models will begin replacing F-14 Tomcats. The second phase, extending to 2010, will replace 72 existing F/A-18C/Ds with the E/F model strike fighter, which has increased mission radius/payload, increased carrier recovery payload and improved survivability. -USN-