Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet
Role	Carrier-based multirole fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas (1995–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–present)
First flight	29 November 1995
Introduction	1999[1] 2001 (IOC)
Status	In service
Primary users	United States Navy Royal Australian Air Force Kuwait Air Force
Produced	1995–present
Number built	≥632 as of April 2020
Program cost	Total procurement: US$48.09 billion (through FY2011)
Unit cost	US$66.0 million (2020 flyaway cost)
Developed from	McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Variants	Boeing EA-18G Growler

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Origins of the Super Hornets were to replace the United States Navy’s aging F-14 Fleet, The F-14’s were getting old and the Classic Hornets were made to replace earlier models of the F-14.

All users of the Super Hornets are;

United States - Operating 512 airframes of the Super Hornet and 155 Growlers, all for the United States Navy

Australia - Operating 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets based at No.1 Squadron - Royal Australian Air Force, and 12 E/A-18G Growlers based at No.6 Squadron - Royal Australian Airforce, all are being operated by the Royal Australian Air force, Based at RAAF Base Amberley

Kuwait - 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets on order, for the Kuwait Air Force

The Armament of the Super Hornets Includes;

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan, 412 rounds
• Hardpoints: 11 (2× wingtips, 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage) with a capacity of Max payload: 17,750 lb (8,050 kg). Carrier bringback payload: F/A-18E: 9,900 lb (4,491 kg), F/A-18F: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
  • Missiles:
    • Air-to-air missiles
      • 4× AIM-7 Sparrow
      • 6× AIM-9 Sidewinder
      • 12× AIM-120 AMRAAM
      • 12× AIM-260 JATM (to be integrated)
    • Air-to-surface missiles
      • 6× AGM-65E/F Maverick
      • 4× AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER
      • 6× AGM-88 HARM
      • 4x AGM-158 JASSM
      • 4× AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) - glide bomb
    • Anti-ship missiles
      • 4× AGM-84 Harpoon
      • 4× AGM-158C LRASM
      • Joint Strike Missile (JSM) (to be integrated)
  • Bombs:
    • JDAM bombs (up to 10× GBU-32/35/38/54 or 4× GBU-31)
    • Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
    • Mk 80 series unguided bombs
    • CBU-78 Gator mine system^{[citation needed]}
    • Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bomb^{[citation needed]}
    • Mk-62/63/65 Quick Strike Naval mine
  • Other:
    • SUU-42A/A Flares/infrared decoy dispenser pod and chaff pod
    • AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system pod
    • AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR or AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening targeting pods
    • up to 4× 480 US gal (1,800 L; 400 imp gal) drop tanks and 1× A/A42R-1 Aerial Refueling Store pod for aerial refueling.
    • 12× ADM-141C TALD decoys
    • AWW-13 Advanced data link pod

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet