McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

Summary

Category	Combat aircraft
Origin country	🇺🇸 United States
First flight	18 November 1978
Year of introduction	1983
Number produced	1480 units
Average unit price	$29 million

Description

The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, multirole, carrier-capable combat jet that was originally developed by McDonnell Douglas, now part of Boeing. The aircraft was a derivative of the YF-17 Cobra, which itself was a competitor to the F-16 in the U.S. Air Force's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program. Though the YF-17 lost the competition, it caught the attention of the U.S. Navy, which was seeking to replace its older A-4 Skyhawk and A-7 Corsair II aircraft while also finding a complement to the more expensive F-14 Tomcat.

Work on what would become the F/A-18 began in the 1970s, with the first prototype flying in 1978. The "F/A" designation indicates that the aircraft is designed for both "Fighter" and "Attack" roles. It officially entered service with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the early 1980s.

The design of the F/A-18 Hornet is tailored for its multirole capabilities and the specific demands of aircraft carrier operations. It has a twin-engine configuration, utilizing General Electric F404 turbofan engines, which provide both reliability and power. The aircraft has a highly aerodynamic, compact frame that makes it maneuverable in air-to-air combat scenarios while still being stable enough for precision ground attacks.

One of its notable features is the leading-edge extensions (LEX) near the wing roots, which provide improved lift and contribute to the aircraft's agility. The Hornet's wings are also foldable, an essential feature for the confined spaces on an aircraft carrier. It has a trapezoidal wing planform and utilizes a digital fly-by-wire control system, giving it the ability to perform at various speeds and altitudes effectively.

The cockpit is designed with the pilot in mind, offering a bubble canopy for increased visibility. The avionics are modular and can be readily updated, making it easier to integrate new technology. The aircraft's radar systems, initially the AN/APG-65 and later updated versions, provide it with robust air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.

The design also emphasizes ease of maintenance, which is crucial in the challenging environment of an aircraft carrier. Many of the plane's parts are interchangeable from left to right, and it employs a certain degree of built-in test equipment to simplify troubleshooting.

Armament

The F/A-18 Hornet is designed to carry a broad range of weapons to fulfill its multirole mission set, allowing it to engage both air and ground targets effectively.

Starting with air-to-air combat, the F/A-18 is typically armed with the M61A1 Vulcan, a 20mm rotary cannon housed in the nose. This is complemented by a variety of air-to-air missiles. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is commonly used for short-range engagements, while medium- to long-range air-to-air capabilities are provided by the AIM-7 Sparrow and its more modern counterpart, the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile).

For air-to-ground roles, the F/A-18 can carry a range of munitions. Unguided "dumb" bombs like the Mk 80 series are standard, but the aircraft can also deliver precision-guided munitions. This includes laser-guided bombs like the Paveway series and GPS-guided munitions like the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). It's also capable of carrying the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles for targeting armored vehicles and fortifications.

Anti-ship missions can be carried out using the AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). For suppression of enemy air defenses, the AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) can be employed.

The aircraft also supports various pods for reconnaissance, targeting, and electronic countermeasures. The AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING targeting pod or the ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared) pod, for example, can be used for target designation and damage assessment.

For missions that require extended range, the F/A-18 is capable of carrying external fuel tanks. The hardpoints for these fuel tanks can also be repurposed to carry additional munitions if necessary.

Operational history

The F/A-18 Hornet's operational history is extensive, having seen action in multiple conflicts and serving various air forces around the globe since its introduction in the early 1980s.

For the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the F/A-18's combat debut came in the 1986 bombing of Libya, known as Operation El Dorado Canyon. Since then, it has been a mainstay in various U.S.-led operations. During the Gulf War in 1991, Hornets performed a variety of roles, including air superiority, strike missions, and even SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses). They destroyed Iraqi naval vessels, struck ground targets, and helped establish air dominance.

The aircraft continued its multirole mission in the Balkans in the 1990s, participating in Operations Deliberate Force and Allied Force. Hornets were responsible for a variety of tasks, from enforcing no-fly zones to carrying out precision bombing missions.

In the post-9/11 era, F/A-18s have been heavily involved in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. They provided close air support for ground troops, performed precision strikes against Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets, and participated in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, focusing on both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The Hornet has also seen service with other countries. For instance, the Royal Australian Air Force used its F/A-18s in various peacekeeping missions in the South Pacific as well as in the Middle East. Canada's CF-18s have participated in multiple NATO operations, including those in Libya in 2011. Other users include Finland, Switzerland, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Spain, each with varying operational histories.

The F/A-18 has undergone several upgrades and iterations, including the more advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This newer variant has served in similar roles but with enhanced capabilities, notably in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and against ISIS.

The Hornet and Super Hornet will continue to be part of the U.S. Navy's carrier air wings for the foreseeable future, even as the F-35 Lightning II begins to take on a more prominent role.

Variants

F/A-18A: This is the single-seat initial production version that first entered service in the early 1980s. It set the baseline for the series with multirole capabilities but had more limited avionics and weapon systems compared to later versions.
F/A-18B: Essentially the same as the A model but configured as a two-seat training version, though still combat-capable.
F/A-18C: An upgraded single-seat version introduced in the late 1980s. Enhancements included improved avionics, more powerful engines, and the ability to carry newer and more diverse weaponry. The Night Attack F/A-18C variant came with enhanced night vision capabilities.
F/A-18D: A two-seat version similar to the C model but with a focus on ground attack missions. The second seat is typically for a Weapons and Sensors Officer to manage complex systems. Some are configured as "night attack" aircraft with enhanced low-light capabilities.
F/A-18E Super Hornet: This is a single-seat variant with significant changes over the original Hornet design. It's about 25% larger, has more powerful engines, better range, and can carry more weapons. Introduced in the late 1990s, it has enhanced avionics and radar systems, including the APG-79 AESA radar in later builds.
F/A-18F Super Hornet: Similar to the E model but configured as a two-seater, providing greater flexibility for missions that benefit from a second crew member, such as electronic warfare or advanced ground attack.
EA-18G Growler: This is a specialized variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, designed for electronic warfare. It can carry electronic jamming equipment and is equipped to perform electronic attack missions, suppression of enemy air defenses, and intelligence gathering.

Each of these variants has seen specific upgrades, sometimes called "Blocks," that include incremental improvements in avionics, weaponry, and other onboard systems.

Technical specifications

Version: EA-18G Growler
Crew	1 pilot
Operational range	730 km (454 mi)
Maximum speed	1915 km/h (1190 mph)
Wing area	46 m² (495.1 sqft)
Wingspan	13.6 m (44.7 ft)
Height	4.9 m (16.0 ft)
Length	18.3 m (60.1 ft)
Service ceiling	15240 m (50000 ft)
Empty weight	15011 kg (33094 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	29937 kg (66000 lbs)
Powerplant	2 × turbojets General Electric F414-GE-400 delivering 6350 kgp, up to 9979 kgp with afterburner
Ejection seat	Martin-Baker Mk 14