When we hear the words ‘Top Gun,’ those of us who are aviation enthusiasts are reminded of one plane: the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. However, with the emergence of a sequel to the popular 80s aviation-centered movie, a new plane has shined: the modern Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet! So now, let’s talk about the Super Hornet and why the F-14 Tomcat was no longer used in the sequel.
Well, the U.S. Navy retired the F-14 Tomcat from service in 2014, replacing it with the F/A-18E/F in the air interceptor superiority role. In fact, the F/A-18 didn’t just replace the F-14; it also took over the roles of many other aircraft. It replaced the Grumman EA-6 Prowler electronic warfare jet with the EA-18 Growler, an aircraft based on the F-18 frame. The EA-18 can also be modified as an air-to-air refueler.
Moreover, it replaced other aircraft like the Grumman A-6 Intruder as an attack aircraft, capable of carrying smart bombs, air-to-ground missiles, and anti-ship missiles.
The F/A-18E/F
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the U.S. Navy’s multirole fighter aircraft, operating alongside the stealth Lockheed F-35C Lightning II. The Super Hornet variant, launched in 1999, is versatile, capable of fulfilling various roles such as air superiority, day-and-night strikes with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, and close air support. It is a redesigned version of the F/A-18AC/BD, originally introduced by McDonnell Douglas in 1978.
- F – Fighter
- A – Attach
- E – Single-seat variant
- F – Two-seat variant
The Super Hornet is a highly maneuverable, Mach 1.6-capable, low-observable fighter aircraft. It can carry a wide array of weapons, including:
- AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air heat-seeking missiles
- AIM-120 AMRAAM medium range air-to-air missiles
- AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air radar guided missiles
- AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
- AGM-84 SLAM ER air-to-surface cruise missiles
For the electronic warfare and anti-ship missions, the Super Hornet can carry:
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles (homes in on radar)
- AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile
For the ground attack role, the Super Hornet can carry many guided and unguided bombs such as:
- Paveway laser-guided bombs
- GBU-31/32/54 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs
- Mk 80 unguided general purpose bombs
- Mk 20 Rockeye cluster bombs
The aircraft is also armed with a 20mm M61A Vulcan cannon for close-range, tight-turning dogfights. A variety of weapons can be mounted on the Super Hornet’s 11 hardpoints, which include 2 wingtip hardpoints, 6 underwing, and 3 under-fuselage points.
Powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning engines, the F/A-18E/F has a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and a rate of climb of 44,882 feet per minute, thanks to a thrust rate of 13,000 lbf and 22,000 lbf with afterburners.
Compared to the previous models of the F/A-18 and the prototype YF-17, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is 25% larger, with modifications to the wings, horizontal stabilizers, and larger air intakes.
Difference between the F/A-18C/D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Super Hornet is actually a redesigned version of the previous F/A-18 Hornet series. First and foremost, the most obvious difference is in the air intakes. The F/A-18C/D Hornet uses round and smaller air intakes, whereas the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has large rectangular air inlets to reduce the radar cross-section.
If you look at both models from above, you’ll notice a difference in the leading edge extensions between the wing and fuselage. The F/A-18C/D Hornet’s leading edge extensions are thinner, while those of the F/A-18E/F are more robust, rounded, and larger.
Another less noticeable difference is the size. The Super Hornet is 25% larger than its predecessor, affording the aircraft greater range and a higher weapon payload.
Additionally, the horizontal stabilizer of the Super Hornet is larger than the vertical stabilizers found on the legacy models.
The avionics of the Super Hornet are also more advanced than those of the previous model. While Boeing aimed to maintain cockpit commonality with the earlier model, the Super Hornet features significant advancements in cockpit technology. This includes three touch-screen multifunction displays, a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire system, and a digital flight control system.
The origins of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
The Super Hornet’s lineage traces back to the previous model, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. First introduced in 1978, the F/A-18A/B Hornet began service with the U.S. Navy as a carrier-based multirole air superiority and attack aircraft. It served as the Navy’s counterpart to the Air Force’s General Dynamics (now Lockheed) F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Being a lightweight twin-engine, multirole fighter (MRF), the aircraft can effectively carry out strike missions and then switch to an air-to-air dogfighter role immediately if and when needed.
The F/A-18 Hornet was the first aircraft to feature carbon fiber wings and the first tactical jet fighter to use digital fly-by-wire flight controls. Its variants include the B model, which is a two-seater, along with improved fighter, reconnaissance, and night-attack versions.
Currently, Boeing offers the F/A-18E/F Block III model, which boasts improved avionics, conformal fuel tanks for extended range capabilities, an advanced cockpit system including a 10 x 19-inch touchscreen display, and an advanced network infrastructure system. The Block III models are in service with the United States Navy, the Australian Air Force, and the Kuwait Air Force.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
