|
Entered service |
1983 |
|
Crew |
1 men |
|
Dimensions and weight |
|
Length |
17.07 m |
|
Wing span |
11.43
m |
|
Height |
4.66
m |
|
Weight (empty) |
10.81 t |
|
Weight (maximum take off) |
21.88 t |
|
Engines and performance |
|
Engines |
2 x General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofans |
|
Traction (with afterburning) |
2 x 78.73 kN |
|
Maximum speed |
1 915 km/h |
|
Combat radius |
740 - 1 065 km |
|
Armament |
|
Cannon |
1 x 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel cannon |
|
Missiles |
AIM-120, AIM-7 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles.
AGM-65, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-62 Walleye air-to-ground missiles. AGM-88 HARM
anti-radar missile, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile |
|
Bombs |
GBU-10/12/16 guided bombs, Mk 80 series free
fall bombs, CBU-59 cluster bombs and free fall nuclear bombs |
|
The world's premier naval
fighter originated as a more sophisticated naval derivative of the
Northrop YF-17 that was pitted successfully against the General
Dynamics YF-16 in the USN's Air Combat Fighter programme of 1976.
The first of 11 trials Hornets made its maiden flight on 18 November
1978. Production of the initial F/A-18A single-seat version
eventually totalled 371 aircraft, the first US Navy squadron
receiving its aircraft in 1983.
The F/A-18 offers much greater
weapons delivery accuracy than its predecessors, and is a genuinely
multi-role aircraft, with remarkable dog-fighting ability. Its
advanced APG-65 multi-mode radar has become the benchmark fighter
radar. The F/A-18 made its combat debut during the El Dorado Canyon
action against Libya in April 1986, and was heavily committed to
action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
The F/A-18A was
superseded by the F/A-18C, which remained the principal single-seat
production model up to 1999, some 347 having been ordered for US
service. The first F/A-18C made its maiden flight on 3 September
1986. This version introduced compability with the AIM-120 AMRAAM
and the IIR version of the AGM-65 Maverick missile, as well as
improved avionics and a new NACES ejection seat.
After 137 baseline
F/A-18Cs had been delivered, production switched to a night attack
version with equipment including GEC Cat's Eye pilot's night vision
goggles compatibility, an AAR-50 TINS pod, Kaiser AVQ-28 raster HUD,
externally-carried AAS-38 FLIR targeting pod and color
multi-function displays. The first night-attack Hornet was delivered
on 1 November 1989.
The Hornet's versatility has led to substantial
export sales. Canada was the first foreign customer, taking delivery
of 98 single-seat CF-188A aircraft, while Australia followed with an
order for 57 AF-18A. Spain purchased 60 EF-18As (local designation
C.15) and later acquired 24 former US Navy F/A-18As from late 1995.
F/A-18Cs have been delivered to Kuwait (32 KAF-18Cs), Switzerland
(26) and Finland (57).
|
Video of the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
fighter aircraft |
|
|
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