The F/A-18 Hornet's Features
The F/A-18 Hornet is a single- and two-seat, twin-engine multimission tactical aircraft. It is the first tactical aircraft designed from its inception to carry out both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Today, the F/A-18 is in service with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the air forces of Canada, Australia, Spain, Kuwait, Finland, Switzerland, and Malaysia. Hornet pilots have accumulated more than 3.4 million flight hours and, in the process, are establishing new records daily in safety, reliability, maintainability and mission performance.
A key aspect of the Hornet’s popularity with pilots is the ease with which the aircraft can be converted from fighter to strike mode and back again; it’s as easy as flipping a switch. During Operation Desert Storm, F/A-18s routinely performed fighter and strike missions on the same sortie. Fulfilling a variety of roles—air superiority, fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, reconnaissance, forward air control, close air support, and day and night strike missions—the F/A-18 has proven to be the most versatile combat aircraft in service.
Reliability and maintainability are also designed into the Hornet. These factors result in significantly lower operating and maintenance costs for the F/A-18 compared to other U.S. Navy fighter and attack aircraft; and life cycle costs comparable to other modern multi-role aircraft.
Survivability is another key Hornet feature. The F/A-18 employs a number of systems and technologies that increase its likelihood of reaching a target undetected, of escaping unhurt if it is detected, and of returning its crew safely if it is hit. These systems and technologies have been enhanced in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to improve survivability.
To maintain its advantage over the threat, the F/A-18 has been upgraded regularly since entering service in 1983. In November 1989, the first F/A-18s equipped with night strike capability were delivered.
Since 1991, F/A-18s have been delivered with F404-GE-402 enhanced performance engines that produce up to 20 percent more thrust than previous F404 engines. The Hornet’s two engines deliver about 36,000 pounds combined thrust and a top speed of more than Mach 1.8.
In February 1992, the Marine Corps began taking delivery of Hornets with provisions for a reconnaissance package. Now, under the leadership of the Boeing Company, a program is under way to integrate the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System into Marine Corps F/A-18Ds. Operational evaluation is scheduled for November 1998 through January 1999, with initial operational capability planned for March 1999.
Since May 1994, the Navy has been taking delivery of F/A-18s equipped with an upgraded radar. This upgrade, known as APG-73, substantially increases the speed and memory capacity of the radar’s processors. In addition, today’s Hornets have a laser target designator/ranger, housed within the targeting forward-looking infrared sensor, that enables the aircraft to deliver precision laser-guided bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
The Hornet’s exceptional operational record and its continuous improvements have sparked ongoing international interest. The Philippines, Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have all expressed interest in the Hornet for future procurements.
Canada was the first international customer for the F/A-18, and its fleet of 138 Hornets is the largest outside the United States. Deliveries to Canada were completed in 1988. Canadian CF-18s operate out of Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake, Alberta; and Canadian Forces Base Bagotville. The Canadian Forces are currently planning an aircraft modernization program, which would significantly upgrade the avionics of their CF-18s.
The Operational Conversion Unit at Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown received its first Hornets in May 1985. Hornets delivered to the RAAF were assembled in Australia. Aircraft are located at Williamtown, in the east, and RAAF Base Tindal, in the north. Deliveries were completed in May 1990. Currently, the fleet is undergoing a two phase upgrade to include advanced avionics, new countermeasures, a new radar and an advanced air to air weapons system.
The Spanish Air Force procured 72 EF-18s from 1986 to 1990. The SAF operates Hornets from air bases at Zaragoza, Torrejon and Meron. In September 1995, the SAF signed a letter of offer and acceptance to procure an additional 24 F/A-18As from the U.S. Navy inventory. To date, 13 of these aircraft have been delivered to the SAF.
Kuwait signed a letter of offer and acceptance for 40 F/A-18 aircraft in August 1988. Delivery of the 40 aircraft was completed in August 1993. The aircraft are based at Al Jabar Air Base, near Kuwait City. Kuwait received the first F/A-18s powered with General Electric’s new F404-GE-402 enhanced performance engines.
Currently, Kuwait is in a post-production support mode. The United States continues to support the Kuwait Air Force with program management, contract administration, logistics, field team visits and sustained engineering.
Finland signed a letter of offer and acceptance for 64 aircraft in June 1992. The Boeing Company delivered seven F-18D two-seat aircraft to the Finnish Air Force in 1995. The first of 57 single-seat aircraft, all C models, were delivered in June 1996 by Boeing’s subcontractor Finavitec in Halli, Finland. Finavitec is scheduled to deliver the final F-18 in 2000.
Switzerland is procuring two complete F/A-18s, 32 F/A-18 kits, support equipment and services. An F/A-18D and F/A-18C were delivered to Switzerland in December 1996 and early 1997 respectively. Kits for the remaining 32 aircraft were delivered in 1997. They are currently undergoing final assembly and ramp operations at the Swiss Aircraft and Systems Co. in Emmen, near Lucerne, Switzerland. Malaysia signed a letter of offer and acceptance for eight F/A-18 aircraft and support in December 1993. All eight aircraft were delivered during 1997.
The Boeing Company leads a nationwide industry team that builds the F/A-18 Hornet. Boeing builds the forward fuselage and wings, and conducts final assembly. Northrop Grumman Corp. is the principal airframe subcontractor, supplying the center and aft fuselage. General Electric Co. produces the Hornet’s engines, and Raytheon provides the aircraft’s radar.
| DIMENSIONS: |
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56 ft (17.1 m) |
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15.3 ft (4.6 m) |
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40.4 ft (12.3 m) |
| WEIGHT: | 51,900 lbs (23,484 kg) max takeoff |
| SPEED: | Mach 1.8 plus |
| PROPULSION: | |
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| COMBAT CEILING: | Approx. 50,000 ft (15,250 m) |
| RANGE (using only internal fuel): | |
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329 nautical-mile radius |
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369 nautical-mile radius |
| ARMAMENT: | |
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| CREW: | |
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One |
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Two |
| FIRST FLIGHT: | November 18, 1978 |
