IOC: 1983
Total Production: 2,050
Total Program's Cost: USD$80 billion
F/A-18F Super Hornet
IOC: 2001
Unitary Cost: USD$95 million
Origin:United States of America
Contractor/s:
Boeing
Description:
The twin-engine, carrier-based, supersonic F/A-18 Hornet was designed to meet the US Navy requirements for an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. This aircraft is able to perform an air strike mission deep inside enemy territory providing itself self-defense capability even beyond the visual range. It is also able to perform close air support missions. In its fighter role, the F/A-18 Hornet supplements the proven F-14 Tomcat in fleet air defense missions.
The Hornet was deployed in early 1980s replacing the F-4 Phantom II and A-7 Corsair II, and the A-6E Intruder in the 1990s. The F/A-18 demonstrated its capabilities during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, shooting down enemy aircraft and performing precision air strikes in the same mission with unprecedented tactical aircraft levels of reliability, availability and maintainability. The US Navy and the USMC F/A-18 played an important role in the military campaigns over the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq in late 1990s and early 2000s.
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has been designed to provide improved air-to-air and air-to-surface capability as well as greater survivability, range and weapons load. The new aircraft will be supplied to the US Navy for the replacement of the F-14 Tomcat and early production F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, while late production F/A-18C/D will be replaced by the F-35B aircraft.
The Super Hornet features stealthy airframe and state-of-the-art electronic countermeasures for improved survivability. In addition, the Super Hornet could be able to deliver a wide range of standoff weapons developed and under development increasing its attack capability. The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and the AIM-9X missile will be the key of short range air-to-air engagements bringing the victory to the Super Hornet aircraft.
The F/A-18E/F aircraft features two F414 engines, 2 additional weapon stations, an advanced multi-purpose targeting pod called ATFLIR, the AN/APG-79 AESA radar (the APG-73 for early production models), compatibility with advanced weapons, and the advanced AN/ALQ-214 electronic countermeasures system. The US Navy plans to buy up to 548 Super Hornets through 2010.
The F/A-18F Super Hornet is the carrier-based two seat variant. The F model can be employed for reconnaissance missions through the SHARP pod.
In December 2003, the US Navy awarded Boeing a second multiyear procurement contract worth $8.6 billion for delivery of 210 F/A-18E/Fs between 2007 and 2011.
In June 2005 the US Navy reported that the F/A-18E/F program including 462 aircraft total cost was $43.9 billion.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 2
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 20 mm
Dimensions: Height 4.9 m, Length 18.4 m, Wingspan 13.7 m
Weights: Max Weight 29,950 kg (66,027 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 44,000 lb (19,958 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 15,250 m (50,033 ft), Max Range 3,455 km (1,866 nm), Top Speed 630 mps (Mach 1.90)
Australia / 24 / 
United States of America