The Super Hornet was first conceived in the 1980s when in 1988, McDonnell Douglas announced that it was studying concepts with the U.S. Navy for an advanced version of the F/A-18 Hornet, called the "Hornet 2000." On Sept. 19, 1995 the first F/A-18E1 was rolled out at ceremony at McDonnell Douglas attended by 1,500 people. The new airplane was named the Super Hornet. As of December 31, 2005, 257 Super Hornets had been delivered, and in December 2003, Boeing and the U.S. Navy signed a second multiyear procurement contract for 210 aircraft which will allow for a minimum total purchase of 460 Super Hornets by the U.S. Navy through 2012 .