F/A-18 Super Hornet
The US Navy's carrier-borne multirole workhorse — a twin-engine, supersonic strike fighter that succeeded the F-14 Tomcat and A-6 Intruder, with an extensive combat record and ongoing Block III upgrades.
The U.S. Navy’s carrier-borne multirole workhorse — a twin-engine, supersonic strike fighter that succeeded the F-14 Tomcat and A-6 Intruder, with an extensive combat record and ongoing Block III upgrades.
Overview
The F/A-18E (single-seat) and F/A-18F (two-seat) Super Hornet is a 4.5-generation carrier-capable multirole strike fighter that forms the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings. Introduced at the turn of the century as a larger, more survivable evolution of the original F/A-18A–D Hornet, the Super Hornet combines a large weapons payload with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and a proven combat record stretching from Iraq to Red Sea air-defense operations. New U.S. production ended in 2025, but the fleet continues to be upgraded to the Block III standard, while Australia and Kuwait also operate the type.
Development
Boeing (originating with McDonnell Douglas) developed the Super Hornet as a major redesign of the F/A-18 Hornet, enlarging the airframe to carry more fuel and weapons while improving survivability and bringing-back capability for carrier operations. The aircraft first flew in 1995 and entered U.S. Navy service from 1999, achieving initial operational capability in 2001, according to Boeing. It was conceived to replace the A-6 Intruder and F-14 Tomcat in a single multirole platform, and saw its first combat deployment in 2002 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Production of the Block II Super Hornet, which introduced the AN/APG-79 AESA radar, concluded in April 2020, with the U.S. Navy taking delivery of the final airframe and shifting emphasis to Block III upgrades and remanufacture.
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