Never Underestimate the F/A-18 Block III Although It’s Not a Stealth Fighter Jet
Video from the channel Military TV about McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 8:02. Language: English. Video type: Documentary.
What it's about
Explanatory piece about the F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III, the latest evolution of the family, and what sets it apart from earlier versions despite not being a stealth fighter.
Historical context
The first F/A-18 Hornet, developed by McDonnell Douglas, flew in 1978. In 1984 it became the US Navy's main carrier-based fighter, replacing aircraft such as the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4 Phantom II. By 1992 the Navy opted for a larger version, the Super Hornet: in practice an almost all-new aircraft that kept the designation to present itself as an affordable derivative. It entered service in 1999 and reached initial operational capability in September 2001 with squadron VFA-115, at Lemoore. Its first strike came in November 2002, during Operation Southern Watch, and in June 2017 it shot down a Syrian Su-22, the first kill by a Super Hornet.
Key facts
The Super Hornet is 20% larger than the original Hornet and carries 33% more internal fuel. The Block III adds conformal fuel tanks holding 3,500 pounds of fuel and a structural life of 10,000 hours, up from the previous 6,000. It also features a cockpit with a large touchscreen display, an advanced mission computer and an infrared search-and-track sensor mounted in a centerline pod, designed to detect stealth fighters without emitting a signal. The Navy plans to buy 78 new aircraft, 61 single-seat E models and 17 two-seat F models, and to upgrade its existing fleet.