Boeing Military
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Boeing Military
F/A-18E/F 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
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History Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet
"the Rhino"
The Super Hornet is a redesign of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The wing and tail configuration trace its origin to a Northrop prototype aircraft, the P-530, c. 1965, which began as a rework of the lightweight Northrop F-5E (with a larger wing, twin tail fins and a distinctive leading edge root extension, or LERX). Later flying as the Northrop YF-17 "Cobra", it competed in the United States Air Force's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program to produce a smaller and simpler fighter to complement the larger McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle; the YF-17 lost the competition to the YF-16
The Super Hornet is largely a new aircraft at about 20% larger, 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) heavier empty weight, and 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) heavier maximum weight than the original Hornet. The Super Hornet carries 33% more internal fuel, increasing mission range by 41% and endurance by 50% over the "Legacy" Hornet. The empty weight of the Super Hornet is about 11,000 lb (5,000 kg) less than that of the F-14 Tomcat which it replaced, while approaching, but not matching, the F-14's payload and range. Being significantly heavier than the legacy Hornet, the catapult and arresting systems must be set differently. To aid safe flight operations and prevent confusion in radio calls, the Super Hornet is informally referred to as the "Rhino" to distinguish it from earlier Hornets. (The "Rhino" nickname was previously applied to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, which was retired from US Navy combat use in 1987.)0
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Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Boeing Military Airplanes
Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet
General characteristics
- Crew: F/A-18E: 1 (pilot), F/A-18F: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)
- Length: 60 ft 1.25 in (18.31 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 8.5 in (13.62 m)
- Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
- Wing area: 500 sq ft (46.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 32,081 lb (14,552 kg)
Powerplant
- Gross weight: 47,000 lb (21,320 kg) (equipped as fighter)
- Max takeoff weight: (29,937 kg)
- Internal fuel capacity: F/A-18E: 14,700 lb (6,667 kg), F/A-18F: (6,241 kg)
- External fuel capacity: Up to 4 × 480 gal (1,800 L) tanks, totaling 13,040 lb (5,914 kg), option for 2x 515 gal (1,949 L) conformal fuel tanks totaling an additional (3,175 kg) on Block III
- Powerplant:
2 × General Electric F414-400 turbofans, 13,000 lbf (58 kN) thrust each dry, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) with afterburner
Specifications
- Maximum speed: 1,030 kn (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
- Range: 1,275 nmi (1,458 mi, 2,346 km) with armament of two AIM-9s
- Combat range: 444 nmi (511 mi, 822 km) combat radius
- Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,070 mi, 3,330 km)
- Service ceiling: 52,300 ft (15,940 m)
Armament
- 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)
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Links to Youtube & Others
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Boeing F-18E/F
Super Hornet
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Youtube Link
Take a tour of the Boeing F/A-18 Block III #SuperHornet. Learn how the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet’s next-generation technologies
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