F-18 Hornet
The US Navy F/A-18 E and F Super Hornet maritime strike attack aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, flew for the first time on November 29 1995. The Super Hornet is about 25% larger than its predecessor, the F/A-18C/D, but contains 42% fewer structural parts. The single-seat F/A-18/E and the two-seat F/A-18/F fly greater ranges with heavier payloads, have more powerful engines and provide greater survivability.
The first low-rate initial production aircraft was delivered in December 1998, and all twelve of the first batch were delivered by November 1999. In February 1999, the US Navy placed an order for 30 Super Hornets, in addition to the twelve already ordered. Following successful completion of operational evaluation, in June 2000 the USN ordered 222 fighters to be produced over the next five years. The first full-rate production aircraft was delivered in September 2001. Over 100 aircraft have been delivered and, in July 2002, the F/A-18E/F began its maiden operational deployment on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). In November 2002, the aircraft made its combat entry, striking air defense sites in Southern Iraq with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Total requirement is for at least 545 aircraft.
Improvements scheduled for Block 2 aircraft, to be delivered from 2003 include the provision of Raytheon APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Boeing ATFLIR targeting pod and Raytheon AIM-9X next generation Sidewinder air-to-air missile.
Kuwait has plans to acquire up to 20 F/A-18E/F aircraft from 2005 and Malaysia has requested a possible sale of 18 Super Hornets as a foreign military sale (FMS).
COCKPIT
The cockpit in the F/A-18E/F is equipped with a touch-sensitive control display, a larger multi-purpose liquid crystal color display, which shows tactical information, two monochrome displays and a new engine fuel display. The aircraft retains the mission software and a high proportion of the avionics found in the C/D models.
The cockpit also has a color digital map and the pilots are equipped with night-vision goggles. The zero/zero ejection seat is the SJU-5/6 from Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd in the UK.
WEAPONS
The Super Hornet has eleven weapon stations, which include two additional wing store stations, and will support a full range of armaments, including: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; guided air-to-ground weapons such as Harpoon, SLAM, GBU-10, HARM and Maverick; and free-fall air-to-ground bombs such as Mk-76, BDU-48,Mk-82LD, Mk-82HD and Mk-84. The aircraft can also carry the GPS/initially guided joint direct attack munitions (JDAM) and joint stand-off weapon (JSOW).
Vision Systems International (jointly owned by Kaiser and Elbit) has received a contract to provide the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for the Super Hornet, to be fitted to Block 2 and retrofitted to Block 1 aircraft.
The F/A-18E/F new lightweight gun system is the General Dynamics M61A2, which
has a firing rate of 7,200 shots per minute and a fully integrated link less
ammunition feed system.
