F/A-18F Super Hornet History

The F/A-18F Super Hornet is a carrier-based, twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft currently in service with the United States Navy and Australia. Developed by Boeing (following the acquisition of McDonnell Douglas), it is an enlarged and significantly upgraded derivative of the original F/A-18 Hornet.

First flown in 1995 and entering fleet service in 2001, the Super Hornet was designed to replace the F-14 Tomcat and complement the earlier “Legacy” Hornet. With a top speed of Mach 1.8, a combat ceiling over 50,000 feet, and the ability to carry a wide array of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons on its 11 hardpoints, the F/A-18F excels in air superiority, fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, and precision strike missions. Its advanced avionics, reduced radar signature, and exceptional survivability have made it the workhorse of U.S. Navy carrier air wings for over two decades.

Boeing continues to produce and upgrade the Super Hornet, ensuring it remains relevant well into the future alongside the F-35 Lightning II.