F18C

McDonnell F/A-18 Hornet

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A designation for Fighter/Attack). Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. It has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, since 1986.

The F/A-18 has a top speed of Mach 1.8. It can carry a wide variety of bombs and missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground, supplemented by the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon. It is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines, which give the aircraft a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The F/A-18 has excellent aerodynamic characteristics, primarily attributed to its leading edge extensions (LEX). The fighter's primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), air interdiction, close air support and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.

Aircraft Information

Role	Multirole fighter National origin	United States Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas / Boeing Northrop First flight	18 November 1978 Introduction	7 January 1983 Status	In service Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps Royal Australian Air Force See Operators below for others Number built	F/A-18A/B/C/D: 1,480[1] Unit cost	US$29–57 million (2006)[2] Developed from	Northrop YF-17 Variants	McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet High Alpha Research Vehicle Developed into	Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Boeing X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing