Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are a series of American supersonic twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft derived from the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, in service with the armed forces of the U.S., Australia, and Kuwait. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced versions of the F/A-18C and D Hornet, respectively.
| 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 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 |
| Developed from | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet |
| Variants | Boeing EA-18G Growler |
The Super Hornet has an internal 20mm M61A2 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and a variety of other weapons. Additional fuel can be carried in up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air-to-air refueling system.
Designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas, the Super Hornet first flew in 1995. Low-rate production began in early 1997, reaching full-rate production in September 1997, after the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing the previous month. The Super Hornet entered fleet service with the United States Navy in 1999, replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which was retired in 2006; the Super Hornet has served alongside the original Hornet. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which has operated the F/A-18A as its main fighter since 1984, ordered the F/A-18F in 2007 to replace its aging General Dynamics F-111C fleet. The Super Hornets of the RAAF entered service in December 2010. In February 2023, Boeing announced plans to end production of the Super Hornet in 2025.