F/A-18 Hornet
Service:
Navy and
Marine Corps
Description:
All-weather fighter and attack aircraft. The single-seat F/A-18 Hornet
is the nation's first strike-fighter. It was designed for
traditional strike applications such as interdiction and close
air support without compromising its fighter capabilities. With
its excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities, the F/A-18
at the same time increases strike mission survivability and
supplements the F-14 Tomcat
in fleet air defense. F/A-18 Hornets are currently
operating in 37 tactical squadrons from air stations world-wide,
and from 10 aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy's Blue
Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron proudly flies them. The
Hornet comprises the aviation strike force for seven
foreign customers including Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait,
Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.
Features:
The F/A-18 Hornet, an all-weather aircraft, is used as an
attack aircraft as well as a fighter. In its fighter mode, the
F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet air
defense; in its attack mode, it is used for force projection,
interdiction and close and deep air support.
Background:
The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities and versatility during Operation
Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently
bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same
mission, and breaking all records for tactical aircraft in
availability, reliability, and maintainability.
Hornets
taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, recovering
successfully, being repaired quickly, and flying again the next
day proved the aircraft's survivability. The F/A-18 is a twin
engine, mid-wing, multi-mission tactical aircraft. The F/A-18A
and C are single seat aircraft. The F/A-18B and D are dual-seaters.
The B model is used primarily for training, while the D model is
the current Navy aircraft for attack, tactical air control,
forward air control and reconnaissance squadrons. The newest
models, the E and F were rolled out at McDonnell Douglas Sept.
17, 1995. The E is a single seat while the F is a two-seater.
The
F/A-18 E/F acquisition program was an unparalleled success. The
aircraft emerged from Engineering and Manufacturing Development
meeting all of its performance requirements on cost, on schedule
and 400 pounds under weight. All of this was verified in
Operational Verification testing, the final exam, passing with
flying colors receiving the highest possible endorsement.
The
first operational cruise of Super Hornet was with VFA-115
onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on July 24,
2002, and saw initial combat action on Nov. 6, 2002, when E
models participated in a strike on hostile targets in the
"no-fly" zone in Iraq.
All
F/A-18s can be configured quickly to perform either fighter or
attack roles or both, through selected use of external equipment
to accomplish specific missions. This "force
multiplier" capability gives the operational commander more
flexibility in employing tactical aircraft in a rapidly changing
battle scenario. The fighter missions are primarily fighter
escort and fleet air defense; while the attack missions are
force projection, interdiction, and close and deep air support.
The
F/A-18C and D models are the result of a block upgrade in 1987
incorporating provisions for employing updated missiles and
jamming devices against enemy ordnance. C and D models delivered
since 1989 also include an improved night attack capability. The
E and F models have built on the proven effectiveness of the A
through D aircraft. The Super Hornet provides aircrew the
capability and performance necessary to face 21st century
threats.
General
Characteristics, C and D models
Primary
Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft
Contractor: Prime: McDonnell Douglas; Major
Subcontractor: Northrop
Unit Cost: $29 million
Propulsion: Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan
engines
Thrust: 17,700 pounds static thrust per engine
Length: 56 feet (16.8 meters)
Height: 15 feet 4 inches (4.6 meters)
Maximum Take Off Gross Weight: 51,900 pounds (23,537 kg)
Wingspan: 40 feet 5 inches (13.5 meters)
Range
Combat:
1,089 nautical miles (1252.4 miles/2,003 km), clean plus two
AIM-9s
Ferry:
1,546 nautical miles (1777.9 miles/2,844 km), two AIM-9s plus
three 330 gallon tanks
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Speed: Mach 1.7+
Crew:
A, C and E models: One
B, D and F models: Two
Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon;
External payload: AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow,
AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick
missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack
Munition (JDAM); various general purpose bombs, mines and
rockets.
Date Deployed:
First flight - November 1978
Operational - October 1983 (A/B models); September 1987 (C/D
models);
General
Characteristics, E and F models
Primary
Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Unit Cost: $ 57 million
Propulsion: Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines
Thrust: 22,000 pounds (9,977 kg) static thrust per engine
Length: 60.3 feet (18.5 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.87 meters)
Maximum Take Off Gross Weight: 66,000 pounds (29,932 kg)
Wingspan: 44.9 feet (13.68 meters)
Range:
Combat:
1,275 nautical miles (2,346 kilometers), clean plus two AIM-9s
Ferry:
1,660 nautical miles (3,054 kilometers), two AIM-9s, three 480
gallon tanks retained
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Speed: Mach 1.8+
Crew:
A, C and E models: One
B, D and F models: Two
Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon;
External payload: AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM-9X
(projected), AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon,
Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER (projected), Maverick missiles; Joint
Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM);
Data Link Pod; Paveway Laser Guided Bomb; various general
purpose bombs, mines and rockets.
Date Deployed: First flight in November 1995. Initial
Operational Capability (IOC) in September 2001 with VFA-115, NAS
Lemoore, Calif. First cruise for VFA-115 is onboard the USS
Abraham Lincoln.
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