(Reuters) -Boeing will relocate F/A-18 fighter jet's service life modification (SLM) work out of the St. Louis region to support expansion for future programs at its facilities, the jetmaker said on Wednesday.
SLM refers to engineering upgrades and overhauls performed on an aircraft to extend its operational lifespan beyond the original design limits.
The program will be relocated starting in 2026 with all St. Louis-based work ending in 2027, Boeing said. The relocation will enable the company to free
up critical space and resources to support next-generation platforms.
"Our expansion plans across the St. Louis site triggered the execution of a multi-year strategic plan, requiring the relocation of some work," said Dan Gillian, a senior St. Louis site executive.
Boeing's facilities in the area are a home to the F-15EX fighter jet, the T-7A Red Hawk trainer, and the MQ-25 unmanned refueling aircraft.
Additionally, the site supports production of JDAMs and other precision-guided munitions. In March, the U.S. Air Force also picked Boeing to design and build the F-47, a sixth-generation fighter jet.
Current St. Louis SLM team members will support these programs, the company said.
The planemaker is weighing several potential sites for the work transfer, with case studies underway at its San Antonio and Jacksonville facilities.
(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti and Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Maju Samuel)
