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Aviation / Aerospace

Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet

Carrier-based Strike Fighter Aircraft [ 1999 ]

At its inception, the Boeing Super Hornet multirole carrierborne fighter represented the next evolution for the Hornet series that began under the McDonnell Douglas brand label.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/04/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 "Hornet" carrier-borne fighter line of the United States Navy (USN) proved a largely successful replacement for the Vietnam War-era strike fighters and attack platforms when it was introduced in 1983. Both single-seat and twin-seat variants emerged as well as improved variants a short time later. However, the system was not devoid of limitations for its common criticisms included limited operational ranges and limited ordnance-carrying capabilities. This gave rise to an evolution of the mark which became the definitive F/A-18 "Super Hornet" series, a model different enough from the original to be considered a largely new, stand-alone multi-role aircraft. The familiar "F/A-18" designation was retained to help push the product through the American bureaucratic circles.

Origins of the Super Hornet began in the 1980s as a design study undertaken by McDonnell Douglas for an improved F/A-18 even before the original Hornet had entered service. The product gained considerable steam with the USN's loss of the other McDonnell Douglas product - the A-12 "Avenger II", a triangle-shaped, carrier-based stealth bomber - which languished in development and ballooned into an unforgivable monster for the service (its related legal issues were not officially resolved until 2014). Additionally, the expensive and complicated Grumman F-14 Tomcats in use were primarily for fleet defense and did not receive their ground attack capabilities until late in their service careers. The new McDonnell Douglas initiative took the existing F/A-18 airframe and extended its wing mainplanes while lengthening the fuselage for additional internal fuel stores and more advanced flight and combat systems. The nine hardpoints of the original design were now increased to eleven in the new - retaining the original's wingtip rail launchers and underfuselage positions. By and large, the external profile of the F/A-18 Super Hornet mimicked much of the established lines of the original McDonnell Douglas offering just in a larger, heavier, and more advanced package. A key defining physical feature of the Super Hornet is in the redesigned air intakes which are rectangular compared to the original's oval-shaped openings.

Convinced of the merits of this evolved, in-budget "off-the-shelf" solution, the USN contracted for development and ultimate serial production of the Super Hornet in 1992 to which the U.S. Congress approved. First flight of a prototype was on November 29th, 1995 and serial production then followed in 1995 with testing ongoing into 1997. During that year, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing completed a merger which saw Boeing come out on top, with the McDonnell Douglas name held onto as a subsidiary. Therefore, the Boeing brand label is commonly associated with the Super Hornet product today. Service introduction of the F/A-18E/F formally began in 1999.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet today operates on U.S. Navy carriers alongside its original F/A-18 Hornet single-seat and two-seat forms - the A-4 Skyhawks, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, F-4 Phantom IIs, and F-14 Tomcats are long-gone and, as a multirole fighter design, the Super Hornet fulfills their myriad of combat roles including all-weather day/night strike, fleet defense, air defense suppression, interception, reconnaissance, Close-Air Support (CAS), and precision strike. Additionally, the Super Hornet has gone on to replace special mission aircraft such as the S-3 Viking and EA-6B Prowler. The Super Hornet - like the Hornet before it - has appeared in two distinct forms - the F/A-18E variant is the single-seat model while the F/A-18F features a crew of two. The "Block II" initiative has added an Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar suite, helmet-mounted targeting, and a revised cockpit instrument panel to promote broader, more modern battlefield usefulness.

Currently there are only two operators of the Super Hornet - the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Australian mounts entered service during 2010 and replaced the outgoing stock of Cold War-era General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" long-range strike fighters. To date (2014), approximately 500 Super Hornets have been produced for both parties though the production lines are set to be closed by Boeing sometime in 2014.©MilitaryFactory.com

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The Boeing EA-18G "Growler" series is a Super Hornet-related, special mission variant for the Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) role. It is based on the F/A-18F two-seat model and entered service in 2009 as a successor to the four-seat Northrop Grumman EA-6B "Prowler" series, this based on the Vietnam War-era A-6 "Intruder" strike platform. The "Advanced Super Hornet" is another (Boeing) initiative to interest future Lockheed F-35 "Lightning II" customers in an advanced 4.5th Generation Fighter serving to bridge the gap between existing 4th generation types in service and the new - though delayed and costly - F-35. It remains in development as of 2014.

As finalized, the F/A-18E/F model is powered by 2 x General Electric F414-GE-400 series turbofans. This supplies up to 13,000lbf thrust each engine on dry and 22,000lbf thrust each engine with afterburner engaged. Maximum speed reaches Mach 1.8 (1,190mph) with ranges out to 1,275 nautical miles. Ferry range is 1,800 nautical miles with a combat radius nearing 390 nautical miles. The aircraft's service ceiling is around 50,000 feet and rate-of-climb is listed at 44,890 feet per minute.

Standard armament is a 20mm M61A2 Vulcan Gatling gun with 578 20mm projectiles carried for short-range work. The eleven hardpoints allow for a mixed ordnance carrying capability. The wingtip launches are typically reserved for 2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missiles. Six underwing hardpoints can carry missiles, bombs, rocket pods, and jettisonable fuel tanks as required. Three under-fuselage hardpoints are also available. Overall capability across all eleven hardpoints is 17,750lbs of external stores. The aircraft also supported the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile and the AGM-65 Maverick missile as well as the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile and the AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile. Precision-guided as well as conventional drop ordnance are both cleared. The Super Hornet carries the base original Hughes APG-73 radar kit or the more advanced Raytheon APG-79 (AESA) series radar suite. It is also outfitted with a BAe Systems Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) system , Northrop Grumman jammer pod, ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and can tow the ALE-50 or ALE-55 decoy for added defense.

To date, Super Hornets have been fielded over Iraq to secure the "No-Fly Zones" of the north and south prior to the U.S.-led invasion of 2003. The aircraft then returned to these skies to contribute as part of the 2003 invasion force flying air defense and strike missions. External fuel loads and delivery equipment allowed Super Hornets to refuel allied aircraft during the campaign as well. Their combat service then extended to ongoing actions over Afghanistan following the earlier 2001 U.S.-led invasion to root out Taliban forces. Since then, Super Hornets have been directly involved in air strikes against ISIS forces in Syrian and Iraq during the September-October 2014 campaign to slow their advance in the region. Australian Super Hornets have not been idle themselves - having been committed to anti-ISIS actions recently as well. As Australia lacks aircraft carriers, RAAF Super Hornets are land-based systems.©MilitaryFactory.com

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November 2016 - Canada is looking to the Super Hornet as an interim measure for its outgoing fleet of CF-18 fighters and its incoming fleet of Lockheed F-35 strike fighters to cover a growing capability gap.

November 2016: A deal for forty F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft to Kuwait has been approved by the U.S. State Department.

February 2017 - Boeing is reviving a proposed F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III upgrade for sale to the United States Navy.

June 2017 - June 18th marked the first-ever air-kill for an F/A-18 Super Hornet platform, this being the downing of a Syrian Sukhoi Su-22 over Syria. The weapon is believed to have been either an AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

September 2017 - The United States State Department has green-lighted a sale of Super Hornets to Canada. This involves eighteen total aircraft of which ten make up F/A-18E models and the remaining eight are F/A-18F models. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) currently relies on the CF-18 Hornet based in the original F/A-18 Hornet carrier-based fighter. Some 77 CF-18s currently make up the RCAF fleet and are A- and B-model representations.

October 2017 - It was announced that the United States Navy has contracted with Boeing to upgrade its existing E- and F-model Super Hornet fleet to the new, improved IRST21 series sensor package. These will be fitted internally to the centerline fuel store and provide deeper radar "vision" and detection functionality for the 1990s-era naval fighter. Low-rate deliveries of test subjects are set to begin in 2019.

March 2018 - Boeing has announced a Super Hornet Block III initiative that will modernize the F/A-18 family line, making it capable of operating alongside 5th Generation types such as the F-35 Lightning II (carrierbased C-models). Key additions will include a specialized Low-Observable (LO) stealth coating to make the fighter less resistant to enemy radar networks, updated cockpit displays and avionics, an IRST sensor fit, conformal fuel tanks (improving range), and improved communications and processing systems. The proposal is somewhat in line with 2013's Advanced Super Hornet that was not picked up by the United States Navy. Initial procurement of the Next-Gen Super Hornet are expected to begin as soon as 2019 and deliveries are set to start in 2020 to which earlier F/A-18 model marks will be retired and scrapped. Some 110 new Super Hornets are being planned by the service. This will also involve modernizing current-gen Block II aircraft to the newer Block III standard.

April 2018 - It was announced that Super Hornet production will continue into 2025.

April 2018 - Boeing has received its first Super Hornet airframe as it readies for the series' Service Lift Modification.

December 2018 - Lockheed Martin has been contracted for development of an Infrared (IR) search-and-track system upgrade regarding the existing US F/A-18 E- and F-model Super Hornet fleet (as part of the "Block II" upgrade program).

February 2019 - The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon are in the running to replace German Air Force PANAVIA Tornado fighter-bombers.

March 2019 - It was announced that Boeing was awarded a three-contract to upgrade seventy-eight E- and F-model Super Block II Hornets to the Block III standard to help extend their operational service lives.

August 2019 - The United States Navy is looking to improve performance from the their in-service EO/IR targeting pods serving with F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Super Hornet models. An option to completely replace the pods is also under consideration.

November 2019 - The Super Hornet (E- and F-models) have been announced as a contender for the Canadian fighter aircraft requirement - going head-to-head with the Lockheed Martin F-35A "Lightning II".

January 2020 - The United States Navy has flown F/A-18E/F models with upgraded InfraRed (IR) sensors based around the Lockheed Martin InfraRed Search & Track (IRST) pod under development. Its development is part of the F/A-18E/F Block III upgrade.

February 2020 - Three F/A-18 Super Hornets have been dispatched to potential customer Finland as the nation looks to succeed its aging fleet of F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters with another Western type.

April 2020 - Germany has revealed plans to use a combination fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoon multirole types to succeed its aging fleet of PANAVIA "Tornado" swing-wing strike fighters.

April 2020 - Boeing has delivered its last batch of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II fighters to the United States Navy.

May 2020 - Boeing has revealed the first F/A-18 Block III test aircraft during a roll out on May 7th, 2020 at its St. Louis, Missouri plant. A pair of Block III aircraft will be delivered to the United States Navy for active testing.

June 2020 - Boeing has recorded a first-flight of its F/A-18F Super Hornet Block III model through example F287. the flight occurred on June 3rd, 2020.

June 2020 - Boeing has now completed two examples of the Super Hornet Block III variant for the USN, both having been delivered to the service (single-seat E-model and twin-seat F-model forms).

August 2020 - Canada has begun taking bids for its fighter replacement program. Among the contenders are the F-35A, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the Saab Gripen.

September 2020 - The U.S. State Department has approved both the Lockheed F-35 Lightning II and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet for possible sale to Switzerland as the Swiss Air Force looks to modernize its frontline fighter fleet. The French Dassault Rafale is thought to be the frontrunner.

October 2020 - The U.S. State department has approved the sale of the F/A-18 Super Hornet to the nation of Finland. The type is in the running to become Finland's next frontline fighter under the HX fighter replacement program. The Lockheed F-35 Lightning II is also in contention and has been approved for sale.

August 2021 - Boeing has delivered its final F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet to the USN for final delivery to the Kuwait Air Force.

December 2021 - Canadian authorities have formally disqualified the Super Hornet bid to replace an aging CF-18 stock for the RCAF. The service seeks 88 new fighters. The competition now centers on the F-35A (Block 4) and Saab Gripen.

Specifications

Service Year

1999

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

1 or 2

Production

615
UNITS

Boeing Corporation / McDonnell Douglas - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

Australia; Canada (possible); Finland (possible); Germany (intent, announced); Kuwait; Qatar (announced); United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

✓ Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.

✓ Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

✓ Aerial Refueling (Tanker)
Dedicated or converted airframe used to deliver fuel to awaiting allied aircraft.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

RADAR-CAPABLE

Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

COUNTERMEASURES

Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.

MULTI-ENGINE

Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

WING SWEEPBACK

Mainplanes, or leading edges, features swept-back lines for enhanced high-speed performance and handling.

FOLDING WING(S)

Mainplanes are designed to fold, improving storage on land and at sea.

HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE

Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE

Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE

Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

SUPER PERFORMANCE

Design covers the three all-important performance categories of speed, altitude, and range.

A2A REFUELING

Capability to accept fuel from awaiting allied aircraft while in flight.

MARITIME OPERATION

Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM

Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.

CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION

Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.

CREW-MANAGED

Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)

Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE

Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.

Length

60.1 ft
(18.31 m)

Width/Span

44.7 ft
(13.62 m)

Height

16.0 ft
(4.88 m)

Empty Wgt

30,565 lb
(13,864 kg)

MTOW

47,003 lb
(21,320 kg)

Wgt Diff

+16,438 lb
(+7,456 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet production variant)

monoplane / mid-mounted / swept-back

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.

Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.

Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet production variant)

Installed: 2 x General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines developing 22,000 lb of thrust with afterburner.

Max Speed

1,187 mph
(1,911 kph | 1,032 kts)

Ceiling

49,213 ft
(15,000 m | 9 mi)

Range

680 mi
(1,095 km | 2,028 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

44,890 ft/min
(13,682 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

STANDARD:
1 x 20mm M61A1 "Vulcan" Gatling-style internal automatic cannon.
2 x AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged air-to-air missiles on wingtip launchers.

OPTIONAL:
Mission-specific ordnance limited up to 17,750lb may include any of the following:

AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles.
AIM-120 AMRAAM - air-to-air missiles.
AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
AGM-84E SLAM.
AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles.
SLAM-ER missiles.
AGM-65 "Maverick" air-to-surface missiles.
LAU Multiple Rocket Pods.
AGM-154 JSW (Joint Standoff Weapon) bombs.
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs.
B61 Nuclear Dumb Bomb.
Paveway Laser-Guided Bombs (LGB).
Mk 80 General Purpose Bombs.
Mk-20 "Rockeye II" Cluster Bombs.
Mk 20 CBU Cluster Bombs.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon

Graphical image of an aircraft Gatling-style rotating gun

Graphical image of an air-to-air missile weapon

Graphical image of a short-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of a medium-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of an aircraft air-to-surface missile

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

Graphical image of an aircraft rocket pod

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft guided bomb munition

Graphical image of an air-launched nuclear weapon

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-radar/anti-radiation missile

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-ship missile

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 11 (including wingtips)

Mounting Points

15

-

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

-

14

HARDPOINT(S) KEY:

X

15

13

11

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

COLOR KEY:

Fuselage Centerline

Fuselage Port/Wingroot

Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot

Wing/Underwing

Wingtip Mount(s)

Internal Bay(s)

Not Used

Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).

F/A-18E "Super Hornet" - Single-seat improved Hornet model replacing Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

F/A-18F "Super Hornet" - Two-seat improved Hornet model replacing F-14 Tomcat.

EA-18F "Growler" - Electronic Warfare Model of the "Super Hornet" line replacing the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler.

F/A-18E/F "Advanced Super Hornet" - Proposed stealthy variant of 2013; conformal fuel tanks; centerline weapons pod; revised cockpit; initiative abandoned.

F/A-18 Next-Gen Super Hornet (Block III) - Advanced Super Hornet model to operate alongside F-35C USN aircraft; stealth coating; advanced cockpit with larger screens and improved interaction; more powerful data processor; conformal fuel tanks for improved range; IRST sensor; improved communications and inter-aircraft data processing; expected deliveries to begin in 2020.

General Assessment

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.

Overall Rating

The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.

98

Rating is out of a possible 100 points.

Firepower Index (BETA)

Inherent combat value taking into account weapons support / versatility, available hardpoints, and total carrying capability.

67.2

View the List

Relative Maximum Speed

Hi: 1200mph

Lo: 600mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (1,187mph).

Graph average of 900 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

Max Altitude Visualization

Design Balance

The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.

Aviation Era Span

Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.

Unit Production (615)

615

36183

44000

Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).

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