Defence companies Boeing has unveiled improvements to the Super Hornet jet fighter which they say make it far more stealthy and give improved combat range.
These improvements can be incorporated in new production aircraft, including the 12 "Growler" electronic warfare Super Hornets Australia has on order.
But they can also be retrofitted to existing Super Hornets, such as the 24 now in RAAF service.
The improvements come in the form of new conformal fuel tanks, an enclosed weapons pod plus other unspecified enhancements.
Boeing said this would ensure the Advanced Super Hornet outpaced enemy aircraft and defences through 2030 and beyond.
"We continually insert new capabilities into today's highly capable, already stealthy Super Hornet, and the Advanced Super Hornet is the next phase of this technology evolution," said Boeing Global Strike vice president Debbie Rub in a statement.
Super Hornet already features some improvements which make it more stealthy - less visible to hostile radars - than Australia's 71 "classic" Hornets.
Boeing said the latest improvements including the enclosed weapons pod and conformal fuel tank - which conforms to the shape of the aircraft rather than hanging below the wing - resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in radar signature and added up to 130 nautical miles to the combat radius.
That gives that aircraft a total combat radius exceeding 700 nautical miles.
These enhancements were proved during three weeks of flight testing in the US.
"Even though we added components to the aircraft, their stealthy, low-drag design will enhance the combat capability and survivability of the Super Hornet," said Boeing test pilot Mike Wallace.
