In 1978, the F/A-18 Hornet completed its maiden flight, launching a military aircraft program that began with the Marine Corps in 1983 and the US Navy in 1984. American NavyThe program included “the full mission suite: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, air refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and precision strikes day and night,” replacing the F-4 Fantom and A-7 Corsair. In 1999, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered service in two configurations. The single-seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F replaced the retired F/A-18C and F/A-18D.
The Super Hornet is a twin-engine, medium-wing, high-performance, multirole tactical aircraft that weighs 7,000 pounds more than the F/A-18C Hornet and features 50% greater range. The stealth-looking aircraft with a low radar signature is equipped with two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines each producing 22,000 lb-ft of static thrust that propels the aircraft to an airspeed of Mach 1.8+ and a maximum ceiling of 50,000 feet. The Super Hornet boasts a combat range of 1,275 nautical miles and a price tag of $67.4 million (FY21).
On July 24, 2002, the F/A-18 E Super Hornet conducted its inaugural operational flight with Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-115 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Hornet’s initial combat action took place later that year attacking hostile targets in Iraq’s no-fly zone. Although the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is still in service, Boeing has announced its retirement and will end production in 2025.
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