F/A-18A Hornet American Multirole Fighter Aircraft
F/A-18A
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Basic Information
Name
F/A-18A Hornet American Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Designation
F/A-18A
Alternate Designation
—
Equipment Type
—
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas (1974-1997) with Northrop (1974-1994) Boeing (1997-present)
Date of Introduction
1983
Description
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft (hence the F/A designation). Designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) and Northrop (now part of Northrop Grumman), the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations, and formerly, by the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. The F/A-18 was designed to be a highly versatile aircraft due to its avionics, cockpit displays, and excellent aerodynamic characteristics, with the ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. The aircraft can perform fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role. The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two-seat variant. The space for the two-seat cockpit is provided by a relocation of avionics equipment and a 6% reduction in internal fuel; two-seat Hornets are otherwise fully combat-capable. The B-model is used primarily for training.
Air & Air Defense Specifications
Crew
1
Engine
Turbofan (16000 hp)
Variants
F/A-18A and F/A-18B
The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two-seat variant. The space for the two-seat cockpit is provided by a relocation of avionics equipment and a 6% reduction in internal fuel; two-seat Hornets are otherwise fully combat-capable. The B-model is used primarily for training.
F/A-18C and F/A-18D
The F/A-18C is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18D is the two-seat variant. The D-model can be configured for training or as an all-weather strike craft. The "missionized" D model's rear seat is configured for a Marine Corps Naval Flight Officer who functions as a Weapons and Sensors Officer to assist in operating the weapons systems. The F/A-18D is primarily operated by the U.S. Marine Corps in the night attack and Forward Air Controller (Airborne) (FAC(A)) roles.
F/A-18E and F/A-18F
The single-seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F, both officially named Super Hornet, carry over the name and design concept of the original F/A-18 but have been extensively redesigned by McDonnell Douglas. The Super Hornet has a new, 25% larger airframe, larger rectangular air intakes, more powerful GE F414 engines based on F/A-18's F404, and an upgraded avionics suite. Like the Marine Corps' F/A-18D, the Navy's F/A-18F carries a naval flight officer as a second crew member in a weapon systems officer (WSO) role. The Super Hornet is unofficially known as "Rhino" in operational use. This name was chosen to distinguish the newer variants from the legacy F-18A/B/C/D Hornet and avoid confusion during carrier deck operations. The Super Hornet is also operated by Australia.
Boeing EA-18G Growler
The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F, which entered production in 2007. The Growler has replaced the Navy's EA-6B Prowler and carries a Naval Flight Officer as a second crewman in an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) role.
F-18(R)
This was a proposed reconnaissance version of the F/A-18A. It included a sensor package that replaced the 20 mm cannon. The first of two prototypes flew in August 1984. Small numbers were produced.
RF-18D
Proposed two-seat reconnaissance version for the US Marine Corps in the mid-1980s. It was to carry a radar reconnaissance pod. The system was canceled after it was unfunded in 1988. This ability was later realized on the F/A-18D(RC).
TF-18A
Two-seat training version of the F/A-18A fighter, later redesignated F/A-18B.
F-18 HARV
Single-seat High Alpha Research Vehicle for NASA. High angles of attack using thrust vectoring, modifications to the flight controls, and forebody strakes.
X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing
A NASA F/A-18 has been modified to demonstrate the Active Aeroelastic Wing technology, and was designated X-53 in December 2006.
F-18L
A proposed land-based export version of the single-seat F-18A with air-superiority and attack capabilities. This variant was to be lightened by the removal of carrier landing capability and assembled by Northrop. Customers preferred the standard Hornet and the F-18L never entered mass production.
(A)F/A-18A/B
"F/A-18A" was the original company designation, designations of "AF-18A" & "ATF-18A" have also been applied. Assembled in Australia (excluding the first two (A)F/A-18Bs) by Aero-Space Technologies of Australia (ASTA) from 1985 through to 1990, from kits produced by McDonnell Douglas with increasing local content in the later aircraft. Originally the most notable differences between an Australian (A)F/A-18A/B and a US F/A-18A/B were the lack of a catapult attachment, replacing the carrier tailhook with a lighter land arresting hook, and the automatic carrier landing system with an Instrument Landing System. Australian Hornets have been involved in several major upgrade programs. This program called HUG (Hornet Upgrade) has had a few evolutions over the years. The first was to give Australian Hornets F/A-18C model avionics. The second and current upgrade program (HUG 2.2) updates the fleet's avionics even further. Since 2019 9 AF-18A have been delivered to Canada to be converted as CF-18A.
CF-18 Hornet
CF-18A: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The official Canadian designation is CF-188A Hornet.
CF-18B: Two-seat training and combat version for the Royal Canadian Air Force. The official Canadian designation is CF-188B Hornet.
EF-18 Hornet
EF-18A: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish Air Force designation is C.15. They were first upgraded to the EF-18A+ version in 1992 and from 2003 to 2004 to 2013 they were locally upgraded by EADS CASA and Indra Sistemas with better avionics, TPAC, data presentation, navigation, software and ECM suit. The AN/APG-65 radar was upgraded to the V3 version and the aircraft also received the AL-400 Radar Warning Receiver and the ASQ-600 emission detector and were certified to operate with Iris-T, Meteor, GBU-48 and Taurus . This version is locally known as EF-18M/C.15M.
EF-18B: Two-seat training version for the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish Air Force designation is CE.15. They were first upgraded to the EF-18B+ version in 1992.
KAF-18 Hornet
KAF-18C: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Kuwait Air Force.
KAF-18D: Two-seat training version for the Kuwait Air Force[
F-18C/D Hornet
The Finnish Air Force uses F/A-18C/D Hornets, with a Finland-specific mid-life update. The first seven Hornets (D models) were produced by McDonnell Douglas. The 57 single-seat F-18C model units were assembled by Patria in Finland. These variants were delivered without air-to-ground capability so the letter A was dropped from the name. They were later upgraded to carry air-to-ground weaponry.
F-18C/D Hornet
Switzerland uses F-18C/D, later Swiss specific mid-life update. The Swiss F-18s had no ground attack capability originally, until hardware was retrofitted
System
Alternate Designation(s)
F/A-18A
Primary Function / Type
Multirole Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas (1974–1997)
with Northrop (1974–1994)
Boeing (1997–present)
Crew
1
Number of Engines
2
Number of Hard Points
9 (2 wingtip, 2 outboard, 2 inboard wet, 2 nacelle, 1 fuselage centerline)
Note
The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two-seat variant. The space for the two-seat cockpit is provided by a relocation of avionics equipment and a 6% reduction in internal fuel; two-seat Hornets are otherwise fully combat-capable. The B-model is used primarily for training.
Dimensions
Length
17.07 m
Height
4.66 m
Width (Wing Span)
11.46 m
Wing Area
37.16 m sq
Tail plane Span
6.58 m
Tail Plane Area
8.19 m sq
Wheel Base
5.42 m
Wheel Track
3.11 m
Empty Weight
12,973 kg
Takeoff Weight, Fighter Mission
15,234 kg
Takeoff Weight, Attack Mission
21,888 kg
Maximum Carrier Landing Weight
14,969 kg
Automotive
Engine Name
2 x General Electric F404-GE-400
Engine Type
Turbofan
Engine Power
16,000 lb (71.17 kN) static thrust each with afterburner
Maximum Speed at Altitude
1,915 km/h
Maximum Speed at Launch
65 km/h
Maximum Speed at Recovery
35 km/h
Maximum Speed Rate of Acceleration
>2 min, Mach 0.8 to 1.6 at 35,000 ft (10,670 m)
Ceiling
15,240 m
Combat Radius, Fighter Mode
740 km
Combat Radius, Attack Mode
1,065 km
Main Gun System
System
Name
1 x M61A1 Vulcan
Type
Autocannon
Caliber
20 mmm
Length
1.86 m
Diameter
343 mm
Weight
113 kg
Normal Rate of Fire
6,000 rpm
Maximum Rate of Fire
7,200 rpm
Ammunition
Type
M56 projectile
Caliber
20 mm
Cartridge
INA
Basic Load
lineless feed from 1,020 to 1,200 round storage drum
Main Missile Systems
Maximum Capacity Weight
7,030 kg) of missiles, bombs, drop tanks
AAM Mode
Note
AIM-9M Sidewinder (two each can be mounted on the wingtip pylons), AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM (max AAM armament is 10 AMRAAMs and 2 AIM-9M)
Missile (Option 1)
Name
AIM-7 Sparrow
Type
Air-to-Air Missile
Manufacturer
Raytheon
Length
3.66 m
Diameter
203 mm
Wingspan
1.02 m
Missile Weight
0.81 m
Warhead Type
1 x Mk 71 controlled fragmentation high-explosive
Warhead Weight
39 kg
Engine
1 x Hercules Mk 58 or Aerojet General Mk 65 boost-sustained solid-fuel rocket
Maximum Speed
Mach 2.5
Operational Range
14 km
Missile (Option 2)
Name
AIM-120 AMRAAM
Type
Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
Manufacturer
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz.
Length
3.66 m
Diameter
178 mm
Wingspan
0.53 m
Tails Span
0.63 m
Missile Weight
151 kg
Warhead Type
conventional high-explosive
Warhead Weight
22 kg
Engine
1 x Hercules high-thrust, reduced-smoke, solid-fuel boost-sustain rocket motor
Maximum Speed
Mach 4
Maximum Range
50 km
Minimum Range
2 km
Tracking System
track-while-scan (TWS) multiple-target tracking radar; inertial reference for each AMRAAM before launch; Nortronics mid-course updates to AMRAAM during flight.
Guidance System
Hughes I/J-band pulse-Doppler active radar w/pulse compression and programmable waveforms
Attack Mode
Note
4 x AGM-65 Maverick, 4 x AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-88 HARM, 4 x AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM, CBU-59, GBU-32 JDAM, many other guided and unguided dropped weapons
Fire Control / Avionics
Navigation Radar
1 x Hughes AN/AAR-50 TINS
Fire Control Radar
1 x AN/APG-65 multimode digital
Infrared
1 x Lockheed Martin ASS-38B Nite Hawk FLIR
HUD
1 x Kaiser AN/AVQ-28 raster
Radar Warning System
1 x Litton AN/ALR-67
Protection
Stealth Properties
None
Heat Signature Reduction
No
Jamming System
1 x Sanders ALQ-126B
Chaffs/Flares
1 x Goodyear AN/ALE-39
Decoys
1 x ADM-141 TALD
Image Sources
Notes
https://www.quora.com/Could-the-Blue-Angel-F-A-18s-as-they-are-be-loaded-with-weapons-and-sent-into-combat-Or-are-they-modified-for-stunt-performances-only; https://www.mediastorehouse.com.au/stocktrek-images/military/cf-188a-hornet-royal-canadian-air-force-13037833.html; https://alphacoders.com/mcdonnell-douglas-cf%E2%80%9318-hornet-wallpapers;
Details
Country of Origin
United States
Category
Multirole Aircraft
Air > Multirole Aircraft
Filter Label
F
Classification
Domain
Air & Air Defense
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
17.07 m
Width
11.46 m
Height
4.66 m
Weight
14969 kg
Documents & Files (3)
Operators (4)
United States
Australia
Malaysia
CFE Treaty
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