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Boeing F/A-18D (25X) Hornet - RMAF Butterworth’s Black Tebuan
Hi and welcome to my 74th, which is about the Malaysian F/A-18D (25X), hope you like it. 
First of all:
- Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
- Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
Background History
The F/A-18 has its roots in a 1966 study by Northrop that was intended to be a successor to the F-5. Originally designed as a light, agile and fast air superiority fighter, the project was continued through the US Air Force’s initiative in the Lightweight Fighter Program. Although the YF-17 lost in competition with the YF-16, the US Navy, seeing greater air-to-ground potential and preferring a twin-engine aircraft for flight safety reasons, decided to further develop the YF-17.
Northrop partnered with McDonnell Douglas to develop the F/A-18, with the Navy requesting specific adjustments such as a more resilient airframe and strengthened landing gear for carrier landings. Despite criticism and problems, including rising costs and weight gain, the first production models were delivered in May 1980. The designation was changed to F/A-18 to emphasize its versatility as a fighter/attack aircraft. The United States Marine Corps’ VMFA-314 “Black Knights” was the first unit to receive the F/A-18A and declared it as fully operational on 7th January 1983.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM; “Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia”) bought eight F/A-18D Hornets, which were delivered between March and August 1997.
On 5 March 2013, three of these Hornets, along with five British-made BAE Hawk 208s, were used in an air strike against terrorists from the Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo. This strike came just before a full-scale offensive by the Malaysian Army and special police forces under Operation Daulat. The Hornets were tasked with providing close air support and monitoring the no-fly zone over Lahad Datu in Sabah.
Pitch Black 2018 marked the first participation of the upgraded fighter jets in a major multilateral exercise since receiving significant enhancements. These upgrades included the 25X Software, JHMCS, Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR), and AIM-9X Block 2 missile capabilities, but also use of JDAMs, and more. The upgrade also provided enhanced IFF capabilities, improving threat identification. The improvements provided enhanced situational awareness, targeting precision, and air combat effectiveness.
Armament of the F/A-18D (25X)
The upgrade to the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s F/A-18D Hornet fleet introduced several new capabilities, these including the addition of a color moving map cockpit display, JHMCS, the Nitehawk targeting pod was replaced by the Raytheon AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod, AIM-9X-2 Block 2, AGM-84D and JDAM series integration. The radar of the Malaysian F/A-18D’s is a Hughes AN/APG-73.
Air-to-Air Missiles
- 2-6x AIM-9M
- 2-6x AIM-9X
- 4x AIM-7M
- 10x AIM-120B
- 10x AIM-120C-5
Guided Bombs
- ?x CRV7
- 4-8x GBU-12
- ?x GBU-16
- 4-8x GBU-38
- ?x GBU-31
Air-to-Surface Missiles
- 4x AGM-65G
- 4x AGM-84A
- 4x AGM-84D
Pods / Other
- AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR
Specifications, Electronics and Internal
- Crew: 2
- Length: 17,07 m
- Wingspan: 11,43 m
- Height: 4,66 m
- Max. takeoff weight: 25.401 kg
- Powerplant: 2x General-Electric F404-GE-402
- Dry thrust: 2 × 53,3 kN
- Afterburner thrust: 2 × 79,0 kN
- Maximum speed: Mach 1,8
- Service ceiling: 15.240 m
- Rate of climb: 254 m/s
- Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g
Thanks for your time, hope you liked it 
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:
Links
Boeing: Boeing Delivers Malaysian Hornets on Schedule
Malaysian Support The Troops: Boeing F/A-18D+ 25X Hornet MARITIME STRIKE
F/A-18 Hornet - Military Aircraft
Malaysia’s mighty Hornets
Royal Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornet Takes Part in Viral Tetris Challenge - The Aviation Geek Club
DEFENSE STUDIES: Malaysia Completes F/A-18D Hornet Upgrade (2)
F/A-18D Hornet - Royal Malaysian Air Force
Boeing successfully completes 25X Capability upgrade for RMAF Hornets – Alert 5
Royal Malaysian Air Force modernises Hornet jets with US sniper targeting pods - Defence Connect
https://militaryleak.com/2024/04/29/royal-malaysian-air-force-takes-delivery-of-second-f-a-18d-hornet-fighter-aircraft/
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