Developed as the United States military’s first all-weather fighter and attack aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet could take on traditional strike applications including interdiction and close air without compromising its fighter capabilities. Over the years, the platform has been steadily improved, and in 1999, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered service with the United States Navy as a replacement for the F-14 Tomcat.
The F-14 Tomcat, a twin-engine, two-seat fighter aircraft, was utilized by the U.S. Navy from the 1970s until its retirement in 2006, predominantly for air superiority and fleet defense missions.
The second upgrade of the F/A-18 model, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, was highly capable and versatile across the full range of missions. It was capable of performing multiple roles, such as air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and day night precision strikes. The Super Hornet is currently manufactured by Boeing, following its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, and is available in two distinct versions: the single-seat F/A-18E and the dual-seat F/A-18F.
The aircraft is powered by two 2 F414-GE-400 turbofan engines, which are capable of producing a combined thrust of 44,000 pounds. To maximize airflow into the engines, the air inlets have been enlarged. With afterburner engaged, the engines can provide a maximum speed in excess of Mach 1.8.
The F/E variant of the aircraft features structural modifications to its airframe, resulting in a 33% increase in internal fuel capacity, equivalent to an additional 3,600 pounds. This augmented fuel capacity provides a mission radius extension of up to 40%, surpassing the capabilities of the F-18C/D variant.
On July 24, 2002, Strike Fighter Squadron 115, also known as the “Eagles,” made the initial operational deployment of the F/A-18E with the USS Abraham Lincoln. Later that year, on November 6, the aircraft participated in its first combat mission by supporting a “no fly” zone in Iraq. The F/A-18E/F was subsequently deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003.
Warfighting Ready
Its capability and reliability as an aircraft have been well established.
The Super Hornet is a multirole attack aircraft that can perform a variety of missions with the use of different external equipment. Its advanced networking capabilities allow it to accomplish very specific missions, making it a valuable “force multiplier” when deployed to meet the challenges a carrier might face.
In fighter mode, the Super Hornet serves as an escort and provides fleet air defenses against enemy aircraft and other threats. In attack mode, it provides force projection, interdiction, and close and deep air support.
The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet has proven to be a highly versatile aircraft thanks in part to its impressive armament capabilities. With a total of eleven weapons stations, including two wing store stations, this fighter jet is capable of carrying a wide range of armaments to meet various mission requirements.
In terms of air-to-air missiles, the Super Hornet can carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-120 AMRAAM. It is also equipped with guided air-to-ground weapons like the AGM-84 SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response), Paveway series of laser-guided bombs, AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile), AGM-154 JSOW (Joint Standoff Weapon), and AGM-65 Maverick, Anti-ship missiles such as Harpoon and AGM-158C LRASM;and free-fall air-to-ground bombs, Mk-80 series unguided bombs, JDAMs, and Mk-62/63/65 Quick Strike Naval mine.
In addition to its impressive range of external armament, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet is armed with an internal weapon that packs a serious punch. The General Dynamics M61A2 20mm Gatling-style gun is a hydraulically-driven, six-barreled rotary action weapon that uses electric firing to deliver devastating firepower at a selectable rate of either 4,000 or 6,000 rounds per minute. This high-rate of fire allows the gun to rapidly engage targets at short range, making it an essential tool for close air support and air-to-air combat situations.
Expanding on Strengths
Since its introduction in 2001, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet, which incorporates a number of technologies that enhance its capabilities, has earned a reputation as the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing. The production of Block II aircraft concluded in April 2020 with the delivery of the final 322 E, and 286 F models. These aircraft were immediately deployed to Strike Fighter Squadron 34 after being produced.
A month after that, the first pair of F/A-18 Block III test jets were sent to the Navy for carrier testing. Boeing developed the Block III Super Hornet to complement current and future air wing capabilities, while the Navy plans to use the aircraft to test and explore new operational concepts.
The first Block III aircraft featured several advancements, including an advanced cockpit system with a 10-inch-by-19-inch touchscreen display that functions like a large tablet. This system replaced many traditional cockpit buttons and knobs and enabled pilots to track and target multiple long-range objects with greater precision.
The aircraft is also equipped with the open-architecture Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked (DTP-N), providing the aircraft’s mission computer with enhanced processing power and networking capabilities, as well as the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) data link. Additionally, the Block III Super Hornets are designed with features to minimize the aircraft’s radar signature.
Furthermore, this program has integrated two other updates, previously intended for future Navy Super Hornets. These updates consist of an enhanced satellite communications SATCOM system and the integration of a podded infrared search and track (IRST POD) system.
The IRST is a “stealth equalizer” that provides the ability to passively detect and counter stealthy aircraft, such as Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 5th generation fighter and China’s 5th generation fighters, including the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31.
Extending the service life of the Super Hornet airframe is a top priority for the Navy. While the F/A-18E/F has a 6,000-hour service life, the aircraft has been heavily utilized in nearly 20 years of conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Consequently, a significant number of Super Hornets have been worn out, resulting in decreased readiness rates and some examples having little useful life remaining. The new build Block III Super Hornets have an extended airframe service life of 10,000 hours. Additionally, Block II Super Hornets receiving Block III modifications will gain an “extra 4,000 hours” of service life “per jet.”
Originally, the Block III Super Hornets were planned to feature shoulder-mounted conformal fuel tanks, capable of carrying an additional 3,500 pounds of fuel, reducing drag and allowing the aircraft to operate longer, go faster, and carry more weight. However, this option has been dropped.
In the press release concerning the delivery of the first operational upgraded jets, Jen Tebo, Boeing’s Vice President of F/A-18 and EA-18G programs, stated that “The hardware upgrades are complete. Today we are maximizing the open hardware and software and developing the apps to keep Block III ahead of future threats. We are providing Navy pilots with the tools to make the quickest and most informed decisions possible, both now and in the future.”
The End of the Journey of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
After nearly a decade of fits and starts, the Navy has quietly initiated work to develop its first new carrier-based fighter in almost 20 years, standing up a new program office and holding early discussions with industry, US Military News has learned.
The multi-billion-dollar effort to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet beginning in the 2030s is taking early steps to quickly develop a new manned fighter to extend the reach of the carrier air wing and bring new relevance to the Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
According to JAMES GEURTS, the Navy’s acquisition chief, the service has established a program office for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative. Geurts informed reporters that the program’s acquisition approach is currently being outlined. The establishment of the NGAD program office by Naval Air Systems Command is in response to the Pentagon’s efforts to adjust to a new defense strategy that focuses on addressing threats posed by Russia and China in the Indo-Pacific theater, all while operating in a constrained budget environment.
BRYAN CLARK, a naval analyst and senior fellow with the Hudson Institute, suggests that the Navy is likely moving towards pursuing a manned fighter aircraft that incorporates many of the capabilities of the F-35C, but with updated technology and expanded range.
TIn May, the Navy established the Next Generation Air Dominance program office, designated PMA-230, to kick off the NGAD initiative. Captain Al Mousseau was selected to serve as program manager, but has since retired and been succeeded by Captain John Dougherty.
or almost a decade, the U.S. Navy has been actively seeking a replacement for its Super Hornet fleet. The aging fleet, originally designed in the 1970s as the McDonnell Douglas twin-engine F-18 fighter and attack aircraft, is in need of a modern successor with advanced capabilities.
Despite the move towards a new fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will continue to play a critical role for the Navy in the coming years. The Super Hornet will remain the primary strike power from U.S. carriers for the next decade, offering a versatile and reliable platform for a wide range of missions.
