Air and Space: The Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet Gets Even More Super

By Mark Phelps

    In 1990, the US Navy canceled orders for the new fifth-generation stealth jets from Northrop Grumman and McDonnell Douglas. They would have replaced fourth-generation combat jets, but the Navy ended up being stuck on legacy F/A-18E and F Super Hornets while the Air Force got the new F-22s.

    At the time, there was significant grumbling among Navy pilots about not having the latest technology. Today, that has changed. The F/A-18 has been reconfigured with new engines and systems to become a 4.5 generation fighter jet. They have greater range, payload, and can land without firing all their missiles. In addition, these aircraft are significantly cheaper to manufacture and maintain than similar fighters like the F-35C.

    Boeing is upgrading all of its Block III Super Hornet aircraft to Block III. This includes an upgraded radar, a better computer processor to transmit/receive more information, infrared tracking capability, a touch-screen, and longer airframe life. The engine is are also what is called "conformal", meaning they blend aerodynamically into the frame.

    Foreign countries are also upgrading their fleets. Several are buying F/A-18s and similar EA-18Gs. Despite all these stealth upgrades, the maneuverability of the F/A-18 hasn't been compromised. It is, after all, an F (fighter) class plane. In fact, one of these planes scored the first air-to-air kill since 1999 in 2017. No matter how stealthy a plane is, it can still get into a fighting situation, and pilots need to be prepared.