The multi-mission F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" strike fighter is an evolutionary upgrade of the combat-proven night strike F/A-18C/D, built by a nationwide industry team of McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, General Electric, and Hughes.

The F/A-18E (single pilot) and the F/A-18F (two pilot) will replace the F-14 Tomcat, the A-6 Intruder, the F/A-18A/B, and older F/A-18C/Ds, and could be configured to replace the EA-6B. It will operate from the nation's aircraft carriers, which move into harm's way in international waters without the need for permission of host nations. All land-based forces, including land-based aircraft deployed on foreign soil, require the approval of their host nations.

The U.S. Navy believes the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is "the right airplane at the right time." Potential enemies will learn it is hard to find, hard to hit and hard to kill. The F/A-18E/F program is on cost, on schedule and on budget. The aircraft remains over 800 pounds under specified weight.

F/A-18E Characteristics

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. It is proudly flown by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.

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.

The aircraft's survivability was proven by Hornets taking direct hits from surface-to-air missiles, recovering successfully, being repaired quickly, and flying again the next day. 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 on Sept. 17, 1995, and are currently undergoing further testing at the Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland. The E is a single seat while the F is a two-seater.

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.

F/A-18 E:

• Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
• Unit Cost: $ 35 million
• Propulsion: Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines
• Thrust: 22,000 pounds (9,977 kg) static thrust per engine
  (Compare this to 7,290 kg thrust for the C and D models)
• 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)
• Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
• Range: 2000 NM+
• Speed: Mach 2+

Above. F/A-18E Super Hornet conducts its first in-flight tests with ordnance. F A-18E Super Hornet conducts its first in-flight tests with ordnance. View JPEG Photo, 750 KB The F A-18E Super Hornet, the Navy s newest strike-fighter aircraft, conducts its first in-flight tests while loaded with ordnance on Feb. 21, 1997. The Super Hornet took to the air from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., with two 2,000 lb. bombs, two AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation HARM missiles, and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

The Super Hornet will replace the A-6 Intruder and is the programmed replacement for the F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighter. Super Hornet is fully capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. Improvements over the F/A-18 C & D models include increases in fuel capacity, engine power, mission radius, weapons stations, aircraft surface area, and increased on-station time during typical combat air patrol scenarios. DoD photo by Randy Hepp, U.S. Navy.

Above. The F/A-18E Super Hornet, the Navy's newest strike-fighter aircraft, conducts its first in-flight tests while loaded with ordnance on Feb. 21, 1997. The Super Hornet took to the air from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., with two 2,000 lb. bombs, two AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles, and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The Super Hornet will replace the A-6 Intruder and is the programmed replacement for the F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighter.

Super Hornet is fully capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions. Improvements over the F/A-18 C & D models include increases in fuel capacity, engine power, mission radius, weapons stations, aircraft surface area, and increased on-station time during typical combat air patrol scenarios. Photo by Kevin Flynn, courtesy of McDonnell Douglas.