McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet
Version overview
F/A-18A (F/A-18A+)
The F/A-18 Hornet was developed as part of the U.S. Navy's VFAX (Naval Fighter-Attack, Experimental) program, which aimed to introduce a new multi-role fighter aircraft into the arsenal to replace the A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and to complement the F-14 Tomcat fighter with its capabilities. The Hornet was then based on a heavily redesigned prototype Northrop YF-17, which failed in the US Air Force's LWF (Lightweight Fighter) program, the winner of which was the YF-16. The first flight of the F/A-18 took place on 18 November 1978. After military trials with the VX-4 and VX-5 squadrons, the Hornets began to be introduced into the armament of VFA-125, VFA-106 and VMFAT-101 school units. The first operational unit to be rearmed with the F/A-18A type was the VMFA-314 "Marine" in January 1983, followed by the VFA-113 from the Navy in March of that year. The Hornets were first deployed in combat in the spring of 1986 against Libya (Operation Prairie Fire and El Dorado Canyon), where they provided suppression of enemy PVOS and fighter cover. The F/A-18A could not be missed in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when two VFA-81 fighters shot down a pair of Iraqi MiG-21 on January 17.
The F/A-18 has two General Electric F404-GE-400 engines and a Hughes AN/APG-65 radar. Production of this version ended in 1987 after 371 production examples and 9 prototypes/test aircraft were built. In 1992, the radars were upgraded and replaced by the more powerful AN/APG-73. These modified aircraft were redesignated F/A-18A+. The F/A-18A used by the Canadian Air Force carries the designation CF-188A Hornet (or CF-18A manufacturer's designation). The Spanish operate their F/A-18A with the designation C.15 (or EF-18A manufacturer's designation).
F/A-18B (TF-18A)
This is a two-seat, trainer-fighter variant derived from the single-seat version of the F/A-18A. The addition of a second cockpit necessitated the relocation of some of the avionics and a 6% reduction in the fuel carried. Thirty-nine of this version were produced. The first two-seat aircraft produced were initially designated TF-18A. The F/A-18Bs used by the Canadian Air Force carry the designation CF-188B Hornet (or the manufacturer's designation CF-18B). The Spanish operate their F/A-18Bs with the designation CE.15 (or the manufacturer's designation EF-18B).
F/A-18C
A modernized single-seat fighter version delivered to the U.S. Navy in September 1987. The aircraft is equipped with new General Electric F404-GE-402 powerplants (machines produced until October 1992 had the -400 version), Martin-Baker NACES ejection seats, new means of REB guidance or AN/APG-73 radar, which allowed the use of anti-aircraft cruise missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM and anti-ship missiles AGM-65F Maverick and AGM-84 Harpoon. Beginning in November 1989, modified C/D versions of the aircraft, also known by the nickname "Night Attack", began to be delivered to the Navy and Marine Corps. These were equipped with color displays in the cockpit, a digital moving map screen, and lighting to allow the use of night vision goggles. The modified aircraft were also able to use Loral AN/AAS-38 NITE Hawk missile containers and Hughes AN/AAR-50 navigation pods. Beginning in 1993, the machines were equipped with the upgraded AN/AAS-38A NITE Hawk auxiliary gunnery container. Production of the F/A-18C version was discontinued in 1999.
F/A-18D
A two-seat, trainer-fighter variant derived from the single-seat version of the F/A-18C. The addition of a second cockpit necessitated the relocation of some of the avionics and a 6% reduction in fuel carried. The last F/A-18Ds produced were delivered to the US Marine Corps in 2000. In the late 1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps took delivery of a version of the F/A-18D equipped with an Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) electro-optical reconnaissance system installed in the nose in place of the M61A1 Vulcan gun.
F/A-18E
A radically redesigned version that the Navy ordered in 1992 with the view (in various subversions) of gradually replacing the F-14, A-6E, KA-6D, S-3, and EA-6B. The fuselage was lengthened by 0.86 m and the wingspan was increased by 1.31 m. These modifications increased the internal fuel supply by 30%, increasing the range by up to 40%. The first flight of the Super Hornet took place on 29 November 1995. Series production began in September 1997. The first Navy unit to achieve operational capability on Super Hornets was VFA-115 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The avionics and software of the first F/A-18E/F were 90% identical to the last production F/A-18C/D. The original AN/APG-73 radars, taken from the classic Hornets, were gradually replaced by the new AN/APG-79 electronically deflected beam sensor starting in 2005. The main electro-optical sensor and firing container is the AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR. The Super Hornet has a reduced effective radar reflecting surface compared to previous versions. The propulsion units are of the General Electric F414-GE-400 twin-jet type. The first combat use of the F/A-18E occurred in November 2002, when VFA-115 as part of Operation Southern Watch, the unit conducted a raid on an air defense position in the Al Kut area and an air defense command post at Tallil Air Base. In 2003, VFA-14, VFA-41 and VFA-115 units deployed their Super Hornets to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
F/A-18F[/url
A two-seat version derived from the F/A-18E. Unlike previous Hornet versions, this is not so much a trainer variant, but rather a two-seat combat version. A weapons systems operator sits in the rear cockpit. As with most two-seat older F/A-18Ds, the knipl and other controls have been removed.
[url=https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/28944/]EA-18G Growler
A version designed for radio electronic warfare and silencing/destroying enemy air defense systems derived from the F/A-18F variant. The Growler was developed as a successor to the EA-6B Prowler airborne machines. The U.S. Navy ordered a total of 57 EA-18G machines, production of which began in 2007. The first unit to use the machines was the VAQ-129 "Vikings" training unit in June 2008. The first operational unit, VAQ-132 "Scorpions", is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability on the Growlers in 2009.
Article [url=www.valka.cz]McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and its versions[/url
Version overview
F/A-18A (F/A-18A+)
The F/A-18 Hornet was developed as part of the U.S. Navy's VFAX (Naval Fighter-Attack, Experimental) program, which aimed to introduce a new multi-role fighter aircraft into the arsenal to replace the A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, and to complement the F-14 Tomcat fighter with its capabilities. The Hornet was then based on a heavily redesigned prototype Northrop YF-17, which failed in the US Air Force's LWF (Lightweight Fighter) program, the winner of which was the YF-16. The first flight of the F/A-18 took place on 18 November 1978. After military trials with the VX-4 and VX-5 squadrons, the Hornets began to be introduced into the armament of VFA-125, VFA-106 and VMFAT-101 school units. The first operational unit to be rearmed with the F/A-18A type was the VMFA-314 "Marine" in January 1983, followed by the VFA-113 from the Navy in March of that year. The Hornets were first deployed in combat in the spring of 1986 against Libya (Operation Prairie Fire and El Dorado Canyon), where they provided suppression of enemy PVOS and fighter cover. The F/A-18A could not be missed in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when two VFA-81 fighters shot down a pair of Iraqi MiG-21 on January 17.
The F/A-18 has two General Electric F404-GE-400 engines and a Hughes AN/APG-65 radar. Production of this version ended in 1987 after 371 production examples and 9 prototypes/test aircraft were built. In 1992, the radars were upgraded and replaced by the more powerful AN/APG-73. These modified aircraft were redesignated F/A-18A+. The F/A-18A used by the Canadian Air Force carries the designation CF-188A Hornet (or CF-18A manufacturer's designation). The Spanish operate their F/A-18A with the designation C.15 (or EF-18A manufacturer's designation).
F/A-18B (TF-18A)
This is a two-seat, trainer-fighter variant derived from the single-seat version of the F/A-18A. The addition of a second cockpit necessitated the relocation of some of the avionics and a 6% reduction in the fuel carried. Thirty-nine of this version were produced. The first two-seat aircraft produced were initially designated TF-18A. The F/A-18Bs used by the Canadian Air Force carry the designation CF-188B Hornet (or the manufacturer's designation CF-18B). The Spanish operate their F/A-18Bs with the designation CE.15 (or the manufacturer's designation EF-18B).
F/A-18C
A modernized single-seat fighter version delivered to the U.S. Navy in September 1987. The aircraft is equipped with new General Electric F404-GE-402 powerplants (machines produced until October 1992 had the -400 version), Martin-Baker NACES ejection seats, new means of REB guidance or AN/APG-73 radar, which allowed the use of anti-aircraft cruise missiles AIM-120 AMRAAM and anti-ship missiles AGM-65F Maverick and AGM-84 Harpoon. Beginning in November 1989, modified C/D versions of the aircraft, also known by the nickname "Night Attack", began to be delivered to the Navy and Marine Corps. These were equipped with color displays in the cockpit, a digital moving map screen, and lighting to allow the use of night vision goggles. The modified aircraft were also able to use Loral AN/AAS-38 NITE Hawk missile containers and Hughes AN/AAR-50 navigation pods. Beginning in 1993, the machines were equipped with the upgraded AN/AAS-38A NITE Hawk auxiliary gunnery container. Production of the F/A-18C version was discontinued in 1999.
F/A-18D
A two-seat, trainer-fighter variant derived from the single-seat version of the F/A-18C. The addition of a second cockpit necessitated the relocation of some of the avionics and a 6% reduction in fuel carried. The last F/A-18Ds produced were delivered to the US Marine Corps in 2000. In the late 1990s, the U.S. Marine Corps took delivery of a version of the F/A-18D equipped with an Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) electro-optical reconnaissance system installed in the nose in place of the M61A1 Vulcan gun.
F/A-18E
A radically redesigned version that the Navy ordered in 1992 with the view (in various subversions) of gradually replacing the F-14, A-6E, KA-6D, S-3, and EA-6B. The fuselage was lengthened by 0.86 m and the wingspan was increased by 1.31 m. These modifications increased the internal fuel supply by 30%, increasing the range by up to 40%. The first flight of the Super Hornet took place on 29 November 1995. Series production began in September 1997. The first Navy unit to achieve operational capability on Super Hornets was VFA-115 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The avionics and software of the first F/A-18E/F were 90% identical to the last production F/A-18C/D. The original AN/APG-73 radars, taken from the classic Hornets, were gradually replaced by the new AN/APG-79 electronically deflected beam sensor starting in 2005. The main electro-optical sensor and firing container is the AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR. The Super Hornet has a reduced effective radar reflecting surface compared to previous versions. The propulsion units are of the General Electric F414-GE-400 twin-jet type. The first combat use of the F/A-18E occurred in November 2002, when VFA-115 as part of Operation Southern Watch, the unit conducted a raid on an air defense position in the Al Kut area and an air defense command post at Tallil Air Base. In 2003, VFA-14, VFA-41 and VFA-115 units deployed their Super Hornets to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
F/A-18F[/url
A two-seat version derived from the F/A-18E. Unlike previous Hornet versions, this is not so much a trainer variant, but rather a two-seat combat version. A weapons systems operator sits in the rear cockpit. As with most two-seat older F/A-18Ds, the knipl and other controls have been removed.
[url=https://www.valka.cz/topic/view/28944/]EA-18G Growler
A version designed for radio electronic warfare and silencing/destroying enemy air defense systems derived from the F/A-18F variant. The Growler was developed as a successor to the EA-6B Prowler airborne machines. The U.S. Navy ordered a total of 57 EA-18G machines, production of which began in 2007. The first unit to use the machines was the VAQ-129 "Vikings" training unit in June 2008. The first operational unit, VAQ-132 "Scorpions", is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability on the Growlers in 2009.
Article [url=www.valka.cz]McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and its versions[/url