F/A-18 HORNET
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.