McDonnell Douglas CF-188 (CF-18) Hornet IMP I: Canadian Fury

[lxtav]

Would you like to see this in game?

• Yes but in the British TT
• Yes but in the US TT
• Yes but in a potential future Canadian TT
• No

How would you like to see it in game?

• As a researchable TT aircraft
• As a Premium aircraft
• As an Event/BP aircraft
• I said No!

McDonnell Douglas CF-188 Hornet

Hello and welcome to my suggestion for the CF-118 Hornet, one of the most iconic canadian aircraft ever made, I feel this could come to game either to britain to fill the high tier naval aircraft gap or to an independent canadian tree sometime in the future, I would like to highlight that originally this suggestion was for the CF-118 as a whole, but since November 2024, i have edited it to focus on the IMP I Upgrade as other upgrades of the Hornet could sit at radically different BRs from each other.

History

Spoiler

The CF-188, more commonly known as the CF-18, started life in 1977 when the canadian government began pursuing a replacement for their ageing fleet of aircraft including the CF-104 Starfighter and CF-116 Freedom Fighter. As a result of this the New Fighter Aircraft (NFA) competition was begun with an aim of procuring around 150 units of off the shelf designs. A plethora of designs were considered, ranging from European designs such as the Panavia Tornado and Mirage 2000 to closer to home US designs including the entire “Teen series” Fighters, most notably the F/A-18.

Within a year the Project had been narrowed down to 3 finalists, the F-16, F/A-18 and a land based version of the Hornet, the F-18L. The F-18L was the favoured choice of the three, owing to its higher performance and cheaper construction than its carrier based brother, however due to the fact that Northrop had yet to produce a functioning prototype of the aircraft (and the fact that there was no other foreign interest in the aircraft) it was ditched an it appeared that the F/A-18 would take the competition.

However, through a rather interesting turn of events, the F-14 made its way back into the spotlight following the Iranian Revolution, with Canada offering to buy the fairly new Iranian Tomcats at a highly discounted price due to the lack of US support meaning that the Iranian F-14s could be rendered unflyable due to lack of spares, but negotiations were short lived and ended following the Canadian Caper operation in which 6 US Diplomats were smuggled out of Iran with extensive help from the Canadians.

This meant that the Hornet won the competition, with the F/A-18 being chosen in 1980, and quickly an order was received for 138 aircraft split between 98 single-seat variants and 40 dual-seat variants, being dubbed the CF-188A and CF-188B respectively. These aircraft were almost identical to their American counterparts with the Carrier capability including a carrier certified arrestor hook and wing folding mechanisms. The only main differences however was the addition of an identification spotlight in the gun loading door on the port side. The CF-188 also diverges from its american sibling by having a painted “False canopy” on the underside of the aircraft, aimed at confusing the opponent during a dogfight.

Now, the original aircraft were not compatible with the more modern weapons that began to come around in the 1990s, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, and as a result in 2001 the Incremental Modernization Project was begun, the project was split into two phases, however i will only cover the IMP I upgrades in this suggestion due to the other half being worthy of its own suggestion, however lets get back on track. The Incremental Modernization Project Phase 1 (shortented to IMP I) modernised the Hornets extensively, adding not just AMRAAM capability, but also the APG-73 radar, Night vision devices and a whole array of Avionics improvements to the aircraft.

The Hornets continued to be upgraded through their life, not only receiving the IMP I & II upgrades, but also the HEP (Hornet Extension Programme) Phase I & II, however as i said before, each upgrade is large enough to warrant its own suggestion. Due to these upgrades The Hornet has served for 40 years, with a deal being signed in 2022 (following extensive procurement issues) for the first 16 of 88 F-35As to replace the Hornet with the first deliveries planned for 2026 and plans for the Hornets to continue serving into the 2030s.

Specifications and Armament

Spoiler

General Specs

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
• Height: 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
• Wing area: 400 sq ft (37 m2)
• Airfoil: root: NACA 65A005 mod; tip: [NACA 65A003.5 mod]
• Empty weight: 23,049 lb (10,455 kg)
• Gross weight: 37,150 lb (16,851 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 51,550 lb (23,383 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engine, 10,000 lbf (44 kN) thrust each dry and 16,000 lbf (71 kN) each with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 979.5 kn (1,127.2 mph, 1,814.0 km/h)
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
• Combat range: 290 nmi (330 mi, 540 km) hi-lo-lo-hi
• Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,100 mi, 3,300 km)
• Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)

Armament

• Nine weapon/store stations (2 x Wingtip, 2 x Wing (Inboard/ Outboard), 2 x Fuselage, 1 x Centreline) carrying up to 13,700 lb (6,215 kg) of payload

• Guns

  • 1 × 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan Cannon (578 rounds, firing rate of 4,000 or 6,000 rpm)

• Missiles and Rockets

  • AIM-9M/X Sidewinder (2 x Wingtip Pylons, 2 x dual mounts on outboard Pylons)
  • AIM-7F/M Sparrow ( 4 x Wing Pylons, 2 x Fuselage Mounts)
  • AIM-120 AMRAAM ( 4 x LAU-115 Dual mounts on Wing Pylons, 2 x Fuselage Mounts)

• Rockets

  • AGM-65 Mavericks ( 4 x Wing Pylons)
  • CVR7 rockets ( 4 x Dual Mounts on Wing Pylons (152 Rockets in total))

• Bombs

  • Mk 80 series unguided/ retarded bombs (Centreline and Wing Pylons)
  • GBU-10, -12, -16, -24, -49 laser guided bombs (Wing Pylons)
  • JDAM GPS bomb guidance kits (Centreline and Wing Pylons)
  • Mk 20 Rockeye/ BL-755 Cluster Bombs (Centreline and Wing Pylons)

• Avionics/ other

• Countermeasures: 4 x SUU-42 Bins under Fuselage (up to 120 Chaff/Flare packets)

• Radar: AN/APG-73 Radar

• RWR: AN/ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver

• TGP: AN/AAS-38 Night Hawk or AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Targeting pods

Pictures

Spoiler

Canadian CF-18 carrying Aim-9 Sidewinders and Aim-7 Sparrows alongside three additional fuel tanks

Potential Standard camouflage for the Hornet

Canadian Air Force demonstration team livery during a 2016 aerial performance

Livery of a CF-18 painted in celebration of Canadas 150th anniversary

Canadian Pilot Standing in front of his aircraft, the False canopy is clearly visible on the underside of the Aircraft

Instruments and Avionics in the Backseat of a CF-18B

Front cockpit of the CF-18 (Both Standard and B variants)

Close up of where the Flares are located on the F-18C/D and CF-18

CF-18 in game

Spoiler

Whilst functionally the CF-18 would be almost identical to the early F/A-18 Hornets that will almost definitely come to the US TT, it would provide a unique piece of history both for fans of the F/A-18 Hornet and of Canadian aircraft in general (I am both).

Whilst in the US TT it wouldn’t offer much over the standard F/A-18 Hornet Due to the similarities between the two, however in the British TT it would provide a unique and competitive Fighter for the end of the naval line after the Phantom FG1 and seeing as the British TT has had similar additions such as the ADATS I feel it is worth mentioning. However it also goes without saying that if a Canadian TT were to come in the future that the CF-18 should go there as it is the penultimate Canadian Jet fighter.

Sources

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McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet - Wikipedia
https://archive.ph/20080117035732/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/cf18/specs_e.asp
https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/aircraft/cf-188.html
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet - Wikipedia
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/boeingcf18hornetmult/?cf-view

[Miki_Hoshii]

Heres and old excerpt from an old CF-18/CF-188 suggestion in which I commented about its weaponry and differences;

"The CF-18 was acquired to replace both the CF-101B in the interceptor role, as well as the CF-104 and CF-116A (CF-5A) in the strike role. They wanted to consolidate the combat jets as much as possible. In comparison to the US Hornet however, it still didn’t have quite the extensive list of weapon racks and weapons.

A couple non-visual changes between the CF-18A and F/A-18A’s was the Instrument Landing System instead of the Automated Carrier Landing System, ALQ-162 jammer, clearance for 480 gallon fuel tanks (vs. 330 gallon), and cold weather survival gear.

I’ve finally got an extensive and thorough list for weapons the CF-18 carried until it was modernized in 2003.

6x AIM-9L/M Sidewinders (Wingtips & outboard pylons with dual racks)

4x AIM-7F/M Sparrows (Fuselage recesses & outboard pylons)

4x AGM-65 Mavericks (Unknown version, likely F or G. inboard and outboard pylons)

152x 70mm CRV 7 rockets in 8x LAU-5003 pods (Dual racks on outboard and inboard pylons)

10x Mk-20 Rockeye cluster bombs (Dual racks on outboard, inboard, and centreline pylons)

10x BL-755 cluster bombs (Dual racks on outboard, inboard, and centreline pylons)

10x Mk.82 500 lb bombs (Dual racks on outboard, inboard, and centreline pylons)

9x Mk.83 1000 lb bombs (Dual racks on outboard and inboard pylons, single bomb on centreline pylon)

4x Mk.84 2000 lb bombs (outboard and inboard pylons)

4x GBU-12 500 lb laser guided bombs (outboard and inboard pylons)

4x GBU-16 1000 lb laser guided bombs (outboard and inboard pylons)

2x GBU-10 2000 lb laser guided bombs (outboard pylons)

2x GBU-24 2000 lb laser guided bombs (outboard pylons)

Originally the CF-18 came with no precision strike weapons, but Canada acquired laser guided bombs and Mavericks from the late 1990’s-2003 as well as beyond.

Missiles such as the AIM-120 and other guided weapons didnt come until after the 2003 modernization, which required new targeting systems and radar sets among other things.

The information comes from the Canadian Aviation and Space Musuem, trade registries between US and Canada on the sale of guided weapons, as well as the brochure for the F/A-18A and a weapons chart for the F/A-18C."

[Fireraid233]

+1 definitely added to Britain

[lxtav]

Cheers, that saves me a lot of time and effort digging around for this info, although id expect initially we would see the Cf-18 in an earlier variation before any of the upgrades, potentially alongside the F/A-18A when it comes (could be as soon as December) with a later version coming after

[VikernesVarg]

As a Canadian myself… +100 for this suggestion. It gives something for the UK aviation top tier that is at least different from the Phantoms and the (soon™) Typhoons.

[Deathmisser]

Yes this need to be added to Britain.

[Deathmisser]

@lxtav This is a funny one :P

[lxtav]

ooooh that’s an interesting camouflage, should definitely be an option if the CF-18 goes to Britain

[Deathmisser]

Yep, it’s a 75th anniversary thing for the Battle of Britain

[Deathmisser]

But yea if the F-16AJ, Swedish trails, Swiss Hunter Canadian, ADATS can come in, in the name of filling holes then the Canadian CF-18 is a must for Britain.

[StormRyder13]

+1 for future Canada tree.

[Mytho-GR1]

It be better then another torrnado

[Deathmisser]

I doubt there would be tbh.

[StormRyder13]

They can be as Canada has enough. I know as I’ve been helping a mod here build an air tree to go with their ground tree.

[lxtav]

the biggest problem with having Canada as a separate TT is that, whilst possible, it would include the removal of several TT vehicles from existing trees, plus there are far more Canadian vehicles in game than there was Swedish or Israeli vehicles before they were added, and all of theirs were either premium or event vehicles not TT

don’t get me wrong, I am not against any future Canadian tree, I feel that SA should have been used to form a commonwealth tree with SA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but I doubt it will happen any time soon

[StormRyder13]

It wouldn’t remove too many vehicles only the Skink and ADATs are tech tree and the Ram II is premium the rest are event and they don’t touch event vehicles. So not too much.

[lxtav]

The thing is that the ADATS is the top SPAA for britain and there isnt another option to add; the Rapier tracked is 10.3 best, any of the Blowpipe equiped SAMs would likely be between the ZA-35 and Stormer, and the sky sabre is multi vehicle and would require a whole new mechanic just for a new SPAA for britain and japan.

Theres far easier nations to be added before canada like yugoslavia or a united korean tree, and gaijin has been open about using canadian vehicles as gap fillers before.

[Rileyy3437]

Warrior low profile hull is the same ADATS as on the Canadian one but with a warrior hull.

[lxtav]

was this actually tested though or was it just a mock up/ private venture?

[StormRyder13]

I mean they also don’t move everything over or leave things in the old tree as C&P. Franch still has a Fisnish SPAA.

@lxtav

yugoslavia or a united korean tree

Yugoslavia would be nice and Korea would be another Israil style tree I’d rather nations that could start in WW2 first.