F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the Navy's newest operational multi-mission tactical aircraft.

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History

The F/A-18E/F acquisition program continues to experience unparalleled success. The aircraft emerged from Engineering and Manufacturing Development (E&MD) meeting all performance requirements while on cost, on schedule and 400 pounds under its weight objective. All of this was verified in Operational Verification testing, the final exam, passing with flying colors receiving the highest possible endorsement.

Description

The F/A-18E/F is a multi-role attack and fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the Navy's newest operational multi-mission tactical aircraft. It is designed to complement and eventually supplant F/A-18A-D Hornet and F-14 Tomcat carrier-based aircraft. The Super Hornet is highly capable across its full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, armed reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night conventional and precision strike, including laser, IR and GPS precision-guided munitions. Compared to the original F/A-18 A through D models, the F/A-18E/F has longer range, an aerial refueling capability, increased survivability/lethality, and improved carrier suitability. Compared to the F-14 Tomcat, the Super Hornet's cost per flight hour is 40% lower and requires 75% less labor hours per flight hour.

Sophisticated systems such as the Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures System (IDECM), Advanced Targeting FLIR, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), JDAM and JSOW precision strike weapons, AIM-9X missile, SHARP Reconnaissance Pod, and make the F/A-18E/F an extremely capable and lethal strike platform. Future planned upgrades include Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, JASSM missile, Advanced Mission Computers and Displays and Advanced Aft-Cockpit Crew Station, which will further increase the lethal sting of the Super Hornet.

The first operational cruise of Super Hornet began on July 24, 2002, with the deployment of F/A-18E aircraft with VFA-115 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). During an extraordinary ten-month initial deployment, the Super Hornet saw its first combat action when, on Nov. 6, 2002, the "Eagles" participated in a strike on hostile Iraqi targets during Operation Iraqi Freedom. During OIF, VFA-115 Super Hornets completed precision strike, offensive and defensive counter-air, and airborne tanking missions. Aircraft reliability and capability were keenly evident throughout this highly successful first deployment, as Eagle maintainers and aircrew met and exceeded all readiness requirements.

Along with VFA-115, currently there are three other operational Super Hornet squadrons: VFA-14, VFA-41 (the first operational F/A-18F squadron) and VFA-102, all of which transitioned directly from fleet F-14 squadrons. In addition to the capability that VFA-115 provided, the second deployment [aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68)] performed missions with the addition of the new SHARP reconnaissance pod.

F/A-18, Navy, Super Hornet Model
The combat-proven F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the 21 st century's premier strike fighter with all the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any country.
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