The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are American fighter aircraft. They are supersonic, have two engines and can operate from aircraft carriers. The armed forces of the United States, Australia and Kuwait use these jets.

F/A-18 Super Hornet (Image credit: Boeing)

New Delhi: A squadron of about 12 F/A-18 fighter jets, taking off from the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, recently completed their deployment to a military base in the Middle East. The Pentagon initiated this strategic move to strengthen Israel’s defense against potential threats from Iran and its allied groups and also to increase the security of US military personnel in the region. These F/A-18 fighter jets and an E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft took off from the carrier stationed in the Gulf of Oman and successfully reached their destination at an undisclosed military base. Let us know all about the F/A-18 fighter jets.

F/A-18 Fighter Jets: Background

The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are American fighter aircraft used by the armed forces of the United States, Australia and Kuwait. The aircraft are based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and can perform air-to-air and air-to-ground/surface missions.

The single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F are larger and more modern versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet.

The Super Hornet is equipped with an internal 20mm M61A2 rotary cannon and can carry a variety of missiles and other weapons.

By adding an external air-to-air refueling system, it can also be made into an airborne tanker. Although officially named the “Super Hornet,” it is commonly referred to as the “Rhino” in the U.S. Navy.

The Super Hornet first flew in 1995 and entered fleet service with the United States Navy in 1999. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also operates the Super Hornet; its aircraft entered service in December 2010 to replace the ageing fleet of General Dynamics F-111Cs.

Features

The F-18 aircraft is unique in that it can be used as both a fighter jet and an attack aircraft. As a fighter jet, it is optimized for speed, maneuverability, and carrying air-to-air weapons to engage and defeat enemy aircraft. As an attack aircraft, it operates at low altitudes to effectively take out single ground targets such as tanks with a variety of bombs. This multi-role design makes the F-18 the first aircraft in the U.S. arsenal to fulfill these important roles.

The F-18 can be customized through various stations on the belly and wings to carry different equipment such as additional fuel tanks or different types of weapons. This allows the F-18 to be adapted to different roles without being fundamentally changed. Another key factor in the F-18’s versatility is its high performance standards, which make it a more capable aircraft overall.

The F/A-18 Hornet, like any other jet aircraft, is equipped with powerful engines, wide wings for lift, tail fins for stability, and rudders for turning. It has two GE-400 turbofan engines with afterburners, each capable of producing 22,000 pounds of static thrust, reaching speeds of Mach 1.7, and flying at altitudes of up to 36,089 feet. The afterburners quickly provide powerful thrust by igniting fuel into the jet exhaust.

The F/A-18’s cockpit is equipped with modern gadgets and intuitive interfaces that help the pilot stay in control in any situation. Some features include NAVFLIR, Hughes ATFLIR infrared radar, head-up display, night vision goggles and digital color moving map.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet is available in single-seater (F/A-18E) and two-seater (F/A-18F) variants. The two-seater variant allows a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) to assist the pilot in operating the aircraft’s systems, making it useful for training and operational tasks such as electronic warfare and enemy air defense suppression missions. It is equipped with a larger cockpit display and an advanced communications system for effective coordination between pilot and WSO.

Variations of the F/A-18 fighter jet

• The F/A-18 was first introduced in 1983. Several versions are available:
• F/A-18A: A reliable single-seat fighter.
• F/A-18B: The two-seat version of the “A”, which offers space for a weapons system officer.
• F/A-18C: Specialized in night attacks.
• F/A-18D: A two-seat night fighter.
• F/A-18E: The Super Hornet – the ultimate fighter/bomber.
• F/A-18F: The Super Hornet – a two-seat fighter-bomber.

Technical data

• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Role: Multi-role fighter
• Crew:
  pilot
  Weapons System Officer
• Length: 18.3m
• Height: 4.9 m
• Wingspan: 13.6 m
• Weight:
  13,387 kg basic weight
  29,900 kg maximum take-off weight
• Engines: Two F414-GE-400 turbofans (20,400 kg thrust each)
• Range: 2,700 km
• Ceiling: 50,000 feet
• Top speed: 1,960 km/h (Mach 1.6)
• Capacity:
  Mission computer
  Head-up displays
  Radar and infrared sensor and targeting systems
  Electronic warfare and infrared self-protection systems
• Weapons:
  AIM-120 Modern medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM)
  Short-range air-to-air missile AIM-9X “Sidewinder”
  Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Laser JDAM
  Conventional and laser-guided bombs
  Joint Standoff Weapon AGM-154 (JSOW)
  AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile
  M61A2 20mm nose gun system

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