f18

The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, carrier-capable multirole combat aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. It originated from the Naval Fighter/Attack program to replace several aging aircraft, with Northrop contributing to the airframe design.

First flown in 1978, the aircraft entered U.S. service in 1983 as the F/A-18A Hornet. The A/B models were followed by the improved F/A-18C/D Hornet, featuring upgraded engines, avionics, and weapons integration. A larger, more capable successor, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, began entering service in the late 1990s and offers a larger airframe, enhanced avionics, and longer range. The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare variant derived from the F/A-18F.

Roles and capabilities: The F/A-18 family is designed for air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strike, reconnaissance, and close air support. It operates from aircraft carriers and provides advanced radar, sensor fusion, and compatibility with a wide array of munitions, including AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Harpoon missiles, and various precision-guided bombs. The Super Hornet variant delivers greater payload, range, and modern avionics, improving overall versatility and survivability.

Operators: In addition to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the aircraft has been exported and operated by several allies, including Canada (CF-18A/B), Australia (F/A-18A/B and F/A-18F), Spain (EF-18A/B), Finland (F/A-18C/D), and Switzerland (F/A-18C/D).

As of the 2020s, the Hornet family remains in active service in its Super Hornet and Growler forms, continuing to support carrier operations and multirole missions.