Military
F/A-18
Super Hornet — Built for Air Superiority The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet is the newest highly capable, affordable and available tactical aircraft in US Navy inventory. Boeing has developed the Block III Super Hornet as the US Navy’s most advanced frontline carrier-based, multi-role strike fighter available today to complement existing and future air wing capabilities. By Rohit Goel F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the US Navy’s frontline carrier-based strike fighter. It is the most advanced multi-role strike fighter available today and for the foreseeable future, the Super Hornet has the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernise the air or naval aviation forces of any country. The Super Hornet is the backbone of the US Navy carrier air wing now and for decades to come. The combat-proven Super Hornet delivers cutting-edge, next-generation multi-role strike fighter capability, outdistancing current and emerging threats well into the future. The Super Hornet has the capability, flexibility and performance necessary
to modernise the air or naval aviation forces of any country. Two Super Hornet versions—the single-seat E model and the two-seat F model—are in production today and in service with the US Navy. Both are true multi-role aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defences, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. A comprehensive spiral development design concept — including the addition of the APG-79 active electronically
BOEING F/A-18 Milestones
The F/A-18 Hornet completed its first flight in 1978
1978
1983-84 Hornets entered operational service with the Marine Corps in 1983 and the US Navy in 1984
Photograph: US Navy
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet made its first flight in November 1995
In 1986, Hornets on the USS Coral Sea flew their first combat missions
1986
1991
1995
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, while performing an airto-ground mission, Hornets switched to fighter mode and destroyed two Iraqi MiG-21s in air-to-air combat
The first operational F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet squadron formed in June 2001
1999 The F/A-18E/F entered operational service with the US Navy in 1999
2001
In April 2005, Boeing delivered the first Block II Super Hornet, complete with the world’s first tactical multi-mode AESA radar
2002
2005
Deployed into combat aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in July 2002
Source: Boeing, US Navy
10
ISSUE 6 • 2022
www.sps-aviation.com
