NPG14_CHINFO_Web_7Mar14

U.S. NAVY PROGRAM GUIDE 2014
The F/A-18C/D models incorporated upgrades for employing
updated missiles and jamming devices. These versions are armed
with the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
and the infrared-imaging version of the AGM-65 Maverick. The
Hornet has been battle tested and proved to be a highly reliable
and versatile strike fighter. Navy and Marine Corps Hornets were
in the forefront of strikes in Afghanistan in 2001 during Operation
Enduring Freedom where they continue to serve and in Iraq in
2003 during Operations Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn. The latest lot
of F/A-18C/D Hornets is far more capable than the first F/A-18A/
Bs. Although the F/A-18C/D’s growth is limited, the Hornet will
continue to fill carrier air wings for years to come, before gradually
giving way to the larger, longer-range and more capable F/A-
18E/F Super Hornet and the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The last Hornet, an F/A-18D, rolled off the Boeing production line
in August 2000.
Status
As of October 2013, the Navy and Marine Corps had 95 F/A-18A,
21 F/A-18B, 373 F/A-18C and 131 F/A-18D aircraft in service and
test roles, and two NF/A-18C and two NF/A-18D versions in permanent
test roles. Hornets equip 20 active Navy and Marine Corps
and three Navy and Marine Corps Reserve strike fighter squadrons,
two fleet readiness squadrons, three air-test and evaluation
squadrons, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels),
and the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center.
Developers
Boeing
General Electric
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Lynn, Massachusetts, USA
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike-Fighter Aircraft
Description
The multi-mission F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter is an evolutionary
upgrade of the F/A-18C/D Hornet. The F/A-18E/F is able
to conduct unescorted strikes against highly defended targets early
in a conflict. The Super Hornet provides the carrier strike group
with a strike fighter that has significant growth potential, more than
adequate carrier-based landing weight, range, endurance, and ordnance-carrying
capabilities comparable to those of the F-14 Tomcat
and F/A-18A/C Hornet it replaces. The single-seat F/A-18E and the
two-seat F/A-18F have a 25 percent larger wing area and a 33 percent
higher internal fuel capacity that effectively increases endurance
by 50 percent and mission range by 41 percent. It has five “wet”
stations that give the Super Hornet in-flight tanker capability.
The Super Hornet incorporates two additional wing stations that
allow for increased payload flexibility in the mix of air-to-air and
air-to-ground ordnance. The F/A-18E/F can carry a full array of the
newest joint “smart” weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition
(JDAM) and the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW). The Super
Hornet has the ability to recover aboard a carrier with optimum
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