Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: Capable fighter /attack aircraft

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet serves as the primary strike and air superiority aircraft for the U.S. Navy. It represents an updated iteration of the F-18C/D, characterized by a 20% larger airframe, 7,000 lbs greater empty weight, and 15,000 lbs greater maximum weight compared to the original Hornet. Notably, the Super Hornet carries 33% more internal fuel, resulting in a 41% increase in mission range and a 50% increase in endurance compared to its predecessor.

The F/A-18 E/F acquisition program achieved significant success, meeting all performance requirements within cost, schedule, and under weight during Operational Verification testing. The aircraft demonstrated reliability and enhanced range and payload capability during combat sorties, while also exhibiting a favorable cost per flight hour when compared to the F-14 Tomcat.

While the forward fuselage retains its original design from the C/D Hornet, the aircraft significantly diverges from earlier F/A-18C/D models. The fuselage was expanded by 34 inches to accommodate fuel and future avionics upgrades, with a 25% increase in wing area. Emphatically, the Super Hornet incorporates 42% fewer structural parts than the original Hornet design.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is engineered to function as both an attack aircraft and a fighter through the selective use of external equipment and advanced networking capabilities to accomplish specific missions, imparting a \"force multiplier\" capability. Since its introduction in 1999, the Super Hornet has manifested outstanding versatility across the full mission spectrum, including air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, close air support, air defence suppression, and day/night precision strike.

Since its service initiation in 2001, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet has integrated several technology-enhancing capabilities, establishing itself as the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing. The latest Block III upgrade significantly extends the platform’s service life and range, incorporating an advanced cockpit system, reduced radar cross-section, and an advanced networking infrastructure.

Furthermore, the U.S. Navy\'s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron commenced the transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet in 2020. The Hornet and Super Hornet collectively represent the aviation strike force for foreign customers, with a growing number of international partners expressing interest in these versatile platforms.

Improvements and changes

The Block II Super Hornet, with its advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and joint helmet-mounted cueing system, marked a significant leap in technological capabilities. The subsequent Block III variant, designed with extended range and improved stealth features, underwent a comprehensive airframe strengthening process to extend its service life to an impressive 10,000 flight hours. Notable enhancements in both the Block II and Block III iterations include the integration of conformal fuel tanks, enhanced engines, an enclosed weapons pod, advanced cockpit systems, and the incorporation of an internal infrared search and track (IRST) capability, culminating in a substantial increase in operational effectiveness.

Furthermore, the exploration of the Advanced Super Hornet concept, which featured a remarkable 50% reduction in frontal radar cross-section (RCS), along with conformal fuel tanks and an enclosed weapons pod, represented a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of the Super Hornet. Although the Advanced Super Hornet was not ultimately pursued, its influential features were successfully woven into the fabric of the Block III evolution, further enhancing the aircraft\'s capabilities and adaptability.

In the realm of propulsion, extensive efforts were dedicated to fortifying the engines against foreign object damage, reducing fuel burn rate, and potentially achieving a notable increase in thrust by up to 20%. Moreover, the integration of electronic signal detection capabilities from the EA-18G Growler served as a testament to the ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and adaptability within the Super Hornet platform.

The decision by the US Navy to extend Super Hornet production until 2027 signifies a resounding endorsement of the enduring significance and value of this aircraft within the ever-evolving landscape of military aviation.

Design

The Super Hornet represents a significant advancement from the original Hornet, boasting a 20% increase in size and a weight that is 7,000 lbs (3,200 kg) heavier when empty, and 15,000 lbs (6,800 kg) heavier at maximum weight. This increase in size allows the Super Hornet to carry 33% more internal fuel, resulting in a 41% extended mission range and a 50% increase in endurance compared to the \"Legacy\" Hornet. Despite being significantly heavier, modifications have been made to the catapult and arresting systems to accommodate the Super Hornet\'s weight, earning it the informal designation \"Rhino\" to distinguish it from earlier Hornets.

In contrast to the previous Hornet, the Super Hornet can be equipped with an aerial refuelling system or \"buddy store\" for refuelling other aircraft, fulfilling the tactical airborne tanker role previously filled by retired tankers such as the KA-6D and Lockheed S-3B Viking. The addition of the aerial refuelling system allows the Super Hornet to carry up to 29,000 lbs (13,000 kg) of fuel on board, significantly enhancing its operational capabilities. However, it\'s important to note that dedicating a fifth of the air wing to the tanker role can accelerate the aircraft\'s fatigue life expectancy.

The airframe of the Super Hornet has also undergone extensive modifications, such as a 34-inch (86 cm) fuselage extension to accommodate additional fuel and future avionics upgrades, as well as a 25% increase in wing area. Remarkably, despite the increase in size, the Super Hornet incorporates 42% fewer structural parts than the original Hornet. The General Electric F414 engine, derived from the Hornet\'s F404, provides 35% more thrust across most of the flight envelope, allowing the Super Hornet to return to an aircraft carrier with a larger load of unspent fuel and munitions.

Aerodynamically, the Super Hornet introduces significant changes, including intake ramps for the engines and two additional wing hard points for carrying payload, bringing the total to 11. Furthermore, the addition of enlarged leading-edge extensions (LEX) improves vortex lifting characteristics in high-angle-of-attack manoeuvres and enhances pitching characteristics, resulting in pitch rates of more than 40 degrees per second and high resistance to departure from controlled flight.

In terms of radar signature reduction, the Super Hornet emphasizes survivability through a balanced approach, incorporating enhancements to its radar signature alongside other innovations to enhance crew and aircraft safety. Although the Super Hornet is not a stealth fighter, it boasts a frontal radar cross-section (RCS) significantly smaller than prior generation fighters.

Avionics and software on the Super Hornet demonstrate a 90% commonality with the F/A-18C/D fleet at the time, with key differences including an up-front touchscreen control display, a large multipurpose colour liquid-crystal display, and a fuel display. Notably, the Super Hornet\'s defensive countermeasures have evolved with the introduction of advanced systems such as the AN/ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Countermeasures (IDECM) and the AN/APG-79 AESA radar, which enables simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with advanced targeting capabilities, communication equipment, and passive infrared detection systems, further elevating its operational effectiveness.

Specifications

Primary Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft

Contractor: McDonnell Douglas (now The Boeing Company)

Date Deployed: First flight in November 1995. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in September 2001 with VFA-115, NAS Lemoore, California. First cruise for VFA-115 is onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Unit Cost: $67.4 million (FY21)

Propulsion: Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. 22,000 pounds (9,977 kg) static thrust per engine

Length: 60.3 feet (18.5 meters)

Height: 16 feet (4.87 meters)

Wingspan: 44.9 feet (13.68 meters)

Weight: Maximum Take Off Gross Weight is 66,000 pounds (29,932 kg)

Airspeed: Mach 1.8+

Ceiling: 50,000+ feet

Range: Combat: 1,275 nautical miles (2,346 kilometres), clean plus two AIM-9s

Ferry: 1,660 nautical miles (3,054 kilometres), two AIM-9s, three 480-gallon tanks retained

Crew: A, C and E models: One

B, D and F models: Two

Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM-9X (projected), AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER (projected), Maverick missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); Data Link Pod; Paveway Laser Guided Bomb; various general-purpose bombs, mines and rockets