F/A-18 Hornet (Legacy): History, Performance & Discussion

I wonder F/A-18A Hornet carries AIM-9 maximum to 4 or 6 ? and carries AIM-7 maximum to 4 or 6 ?

F/A-18A equipped targeting pod ?

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The F/A-18s can be equipped with up to six AIM-9 missiles. Same goes for AIM-7.

Aviation Ordnanceman 3&2 (1990)

Aviation Ordnanceman 3&2 (2001)

However the early hornets were not able to load LAU-115 launcher on station 3/7, so only four AIM-7 was possible. It was changed during 1990s.

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So F/A-18A carries up to 6 AIM-9 & 6 AIM-7 ?

I just know that F/A-18C early (1987) carries up to 10 AIM-9 & 6 AIM-7

Both F/A-18A (1983) and F/A-18C (1987) is capable of 6x AIM-9 and 2x AIM-7, or 2x AIM-9 and 4x AIM-7.

LAU-115 launcher on station 3/7 was allowed for use during 1990s, so F/A-18A+/B+ and late F/A-18C/Ds are capable of six AIM-7s.

I guess gaijin consider F/A-18A with 2x AIM-9 (AIM-9H stock & AIM-9L) and 4x AIM-7 (AIM-7M), F/A-18C early with 6x AIM-9 (AIM-9L stock & AIM-9M) and 2x or 4x AIM-7 (AIM-7M & AIM-7P)

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I would like to remind everyone on the rules of classified documents;

https://forum.warthunder.com/t/source-material-restrictions-on-classified-and-export-restricted-information-military-restrictions/2069/3

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The Distribution Statement A document is still not enough?

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Or the book was problematic?

Both of those Dist-A documents are okay, I believe the first diagram you posted it from the “F/A-18C NATOPS” which isn’t okay. (if its not from the NATOPS though thats okay I can unhide the post)

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Yes, it was extracted from the page 52 of WarbirdTech Series Volume 31: Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.

Magic, thank you. I’ll unhide the post.

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From NSIAD 96-98 page 30:

Performance of F/A-18C with 60% internal fuel, two AIM-9 and two AIM-120 missiles:

Sustained turn rate, per second:

  • @ Sea level: 19.2°
  • @ 15,000 ft (4.5 km): 12.3°

Instantaneous bleed rate in a turn, per second:

  • @ Sea level: 54 kn (100 km/h)
  • @ 15,000 ft (4.5 km): 62 kn (115 km/h)

Acceleration time, from Mach 0.8 to 1.2 (1.08 in case of 5,000 ft):

  • @ 5,000 ft: 21 seconds
  • @ 20,000 ft (6 km): 34.6 seconds
  • @ 35,000 ft (10 km): 55.8 seconds

This document also provides some E-M diagram of F/A-18C and F/A-18E. In this chart, the maximum instantaneous turn rate of F/A-18C is about 16°/s in Mach 0.65, and maximum sustained turn rate is about 10 °/s in Mach 0.7~0.85.

However we have to consider this is the comparison for 550 nm fighter escort mission profile. The F/A-18E with more internal fuel may only rely to single external tank, but F/A-18C needs three tanks for such mission. And the 60% initial fuel means that the F/A-18C is in almost full internal fuel, which is definitely not an optimum status for showing maximum maneuverability. Additional drag from retained external tanks are bonus.

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While it is subject for more research recently it’s been found that in 2018 Japan tested the EA-18G Growler

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Wait, are you getting maps with carriers? I haven’t had a single map with a carrier show up for jets since the F-4J came in. Since then, literally NEVER a carrier

I think this photo was doctored by photoshop or other means.

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I play air Sim. Whilst the choice can be limited, you can pick which map you want to play and several have carriers for both teams. This allows for both take offs and landings.

Quick caviat though. Carriers are also destroyable and often targetted, especially as they have recently disabled the carrier AA. Once a carrier has been sunk. It can respawn, but you cant repair or rearm on it and can always be sunk again

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They may be Swiss by name but they’re British designed and built, a lot of them were just ex-RAF jets.
Anyway I like the subtree idea, would allow for more nations to be in the game in a way that makes sense! +1

That sounds exactly like the F-16A Netz, they were all US made and a lot of them we’re ex US service aircraft but you don’t see anyone saying the USA should get them, the fact is there is no good reason that the Swiss Hunter should have gone to the British.

Or at least gotten a carbon copy. The RAF also operated an almost an identical version of the Swiss Hunter for many years as their primary ground attacker. We need an RAF version of the Hunter FGA9 which had the same CMs and other capabilities of the Swiss Hunter. But they decided to add the Rhodesian FGA9 which was used as a fighter.

https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/heritage/hawker-hunter#:~:text=Hawker%20P1067%20Hunter%20FGA,drop%20tanks%2C%20tail%20chute.

RAF FGA.9s never had countermeasures or guided weapons (air to air or air to ground).

Or whichever version did have that