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F/A-18
Hornet
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 Hornet
comprises the aviation strike force for seven foreign
customers including Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait,
Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.
The newest model, Super Hornet,
is highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air
superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial
refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and
day/night precision strike. Compared to the original
F/A-18 A through D models, Super Hornet has longer
range, an aerial refueling capability, increased
survivability/lethality and improved carrier suitability.
[Capability of precision-guided munitions: JDAM (all
variants) and JSOW. JASSM in the future]
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, F/A-18 E, 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 they participated in
a strike on hostile targets in the
"no-fly" zone in Iraq.
- Super Hornet, has been
flying combat sorties from Abraham Lincoln
during Southern Watch, demonstrating
reliability and an increased range and payload
capability. VFA 115 embarked aboard Lincoln
expended twice the amount of bombs as other
squadrons in their airwing (with 100 % accuracy)
and met and exceeded all readiness requirements
while on deployment. The Super Hornet cost
per flight hour is 40% of the F-14 Tomcat
and requires 75% less labor hours per flight
hour.
- 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.
- There are two Super Hornet
squadrons in the USS Nimitz (CVN 68)
airwing: VFA 14 (F/A 18 E) and VFA 41 (F/A 18F). Nimitz
has no F-14 Tomcats.
General Characteristics, Super
Hornet, 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), AIM7 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.
General
Characteristics, C and D modelsPrimary
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-9X (projected), AIM7 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 - November 1978
Operational - October 1983 (A/B models);
September 1987 (C/D models);
(credits: US Navy)
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