- Yes
- No
History
The Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which entered service in 1974, was a great air superiority fighter and interceptor for carrier air wing. Only problem is that the Tomcat was too expensive and quite hassle to maintain acceptable mission capable rate. Therefore the U.S. Navy had no choice but to reduce Tomcat purchases even before it entered service.
At that time, U.S. Navy still used old-school F-4 Phantom II and A-7E Corsair II. Because the reduced quantity of Tomcat was not enough to replace Phantom, so the Navy felt the need for new low-cost sidekick to replace these aircrafts. This results to the Naval Fighter-Attack Experimental (VFAX) program. However there were still some controversies about ‘hi-lo-mix’ concept, so stripped-down version of Tomcat called F-14X and navalized version of F-15 Eagle was also proposed. But these suggestions were rejected soon.
On May 10 1974, the Congress ordered Navy to consider adopting one of the two LWF prototypes, the YF-16 and YF-17. This results in new program called Naval Air Combat Fighter (NACF) program. Soon the Air Force chose YF-16, but the Navy chose YF-17. This is due to the unusual and harsh environment of the Navy. The Air Force aircraft can attempt emergency landing in case of engine failure, but Navy aircraft have very limited options for this. So the Navy basically preferred twin-engine aircraft that could continue to fly during single engine failure. But that was not the only reason. While both YF-16 and YF-17 required massive modifications to its airframe, the YF-16 was less suitable for carrier operations because of landing gear loadout. Apart from the weight increase that occurred because of landing gear reinforcement, there was also a ‘tipped over’ issues. This was a serious safety problem that could cause the aircraft to rolled over by lateral forces applied by arresting wire. So the YF-17 was selected as a basis for NACF.
The YF-17 evolved to McDonnell Douglas Model 267 which became F/A-18A/B, entered service in 1983 from the Marine Corps. The Hornet featured advanced multi-mode pulse-doppler radar, glass cockpit design, first digital fly-by-wire system for production aircraft. As a successor of Phantom and Corsair, the ability to carry out both air-to-air and air-to-ground mission with a single aircraft was invaluable to the Navy.
After the success of F/A-18A/B, the improved F/A-18C/D introduced in 1987. The C/D Hornets received numerous upgrades, and continued its service more than 20 years after close of the production line in August 2000. As of July 2023, the Marine Corps is still operating a number of F/A-18C/Ds.
Design
Airframe and Engine
As an American fighter jet, the F/A-18 has an uncommon design represented by large strakes and mildly swept wings. Due to this design, the Hornet is suitable for low-speed maneuvering. It is also notable for great high angle-of-attack capability, thanks to its large leading-edge-extensions (LEXs).
The F/A-18C/Ds initially used General Electric F404-GE-400 engine. Beginning with Block 36 aircrafts from 1991, more powerful F404-GE-402 Enhanced Performance Engine (EPE) was fitted. The EPE gave Hornet better acceleration and higher top speed. For example, Hornet with EPE performs 27% better than a non-EPE Hornets in transonic acceleration at 35,000 ft (10.6 km).
The major drawback of Hornet is slow acceleration in transonic regime and low top speed. It could barely exceed Mach 1 at sea level, and it cannot reach Mach 2 even at optimum altitude. Even with the EPE, the inherent problems have only been partially solved.
Avionics
Specifications of AN/APG-65 Radar
Antenna gimbal limit:
- Azimuth: ±70°
- Elevation: ±60°
Scale:
- Range: 5/10/20/40/80/160 nm (9/19/37/74/150/300 km)
- Azimuth: 20/45/90/140°
Elevation scan pattern: 1/2/4/6 bar
Beamwidth: 3.3°
Scan rate: 65°/s
Frequency: I band
Waveform: HPRF, MPRF, LPRF, Interleaved
A/A radar mode:
- Range While Scan (SRC PD)
- Range: ~80 nm (150 km)
- Waveform: HPRF, MPRF, Interleaved - Velocity Search (SRC PDV HDN)
- Range: ~100 nm (185 km)
- Waveform: HPRF - Track While Scan (TWS PD)
- Range: ~40 nm (74 km)
- Max No. of target tracks: 10 (8 displayed)
- Waveform: HPRF, MPRF, Interleaved - Single Target Track (TRK PD)
- Boresight (ACM PD)
- Range: 500 ft ~ 5 nm (0.15 ~ 9 km)
- Scan area: 3.3° × 3.3° - Vertical Acquisition (ACM PD)
- Range: 500 ft ~ 5 nm (0.15 ~ 9 km)
- Scan area: ±5.3° in azimuth, -14° ~ +60° in elevation (10.6° × 74°)
(Raid Assessment and HUD Acquisition modes are excluded, because they are not necessary in game)
Early F/A-18C/Ds used Hughes AN/APG-65 multi-mode pulse-doppler radar. From 1992, the improved AN/APG-73 radar became standard on all production models. Initially it was only fitted to Lot 16 and later aircrafts, but retrofitted to all C/Ds later.
The AN/APG-73 features 7~20% longer detection range, enhanced ECCM capabilities. The last production variant, Lot 20 F/A-18C/Ds got further improved APG-73 RUG II with better air-to-ground capabilities.
As a strike fighter, F/A-18C/D could be equipped with various targeting pods.
AN/AAS-38 NITE Hawk
Weight:
- AAS-38: 340 lb (154 kg)
- AAS-38A: 380 lb (172 kg)
- AAS-38B: 370 lb (168 kg)
Magnification: 2/4×
Field of view:
- NFOV: 3°
- WFOV: 12°
Field of regard:
- Pitch: -150° ~ +30°
- Roll: ±540°
Track Rate: 75°/s
The first operational TPOD of F/A-18. Mounted on station 4 instead of single AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Original AAS-38 provided FLIR view and target tracking, but lacked laser target designator/rangefinder. So the early Hornets had to rely on buddy lasing for laser guided munition. In this case, the AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM pod was also required. This problem mostly solved in 1993 with introduction of AAS-38A with LTD/R capability. The further upgraded AAS-38B also has a laser spot tracker, which completely eliminates need for ASQ-173.
AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR
Weight: 420 lb (191 kg)
Resolution: 640 × 480 pixel
Field of view:
- NFOV: 0.7°
- MFOV: 2.8°
- WFOV: 6.0°
TPOD that replaced NITE Hawk since 2003.
In case of the USMC, they uses ATFLIR on aircraft carriers because LITENING is not certified for carrier operations.
AN/AAQ-28(V)4 LITENING AT
Weight: 450 lb (204 kg)
Resolution: 640 × 512 pixel
Field of view (data of LITENING III):
- NFOV: 0.77° × 0.77°
- MFOV: 2.8° x 2.8°
- WFOV: 18.4° × 21.1°
Field of regard (data of LITENING III):
- Pitch: -150° ~ +45°
- Roll: ±400°
TPOD for U.S Marine Corps F/A-18s since 2006.
This is the only TPOD that can also be mounted on centerline (station 5) of the Hornet. So unlike other TPODs, it does not decreases air-to-air missile payload.
Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18s went through ECP 570R1 (USN) / 583R2 (USMC) in 2006, which includes an integration of Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS).
Armament
Typical F/A-18 weapon loads over Libya and Iraq
The F/A-18C/D could carry various air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, along with 20 mm M61A1 gun in the nose. The gun was later changed to lighter M61A2.
During 1980s and early 1990s, F/A-18C/Ds used AIM-9L/M and AIM-7F/M/P missiles. And from September 1993, new AIM-120A AMRAAM was introduced for A+/B+/C/D Hornets.
In air-to-ground mission, the C/D Hornets are capable of using Paveway II/III laser-guided bombs, AGM-62 Walleye electro-optical guided bombs, AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, AGM-65E/F Maverick laser/imaging infrared guided air-to-ground missiles, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, AGM-84E SLAM cruise missiles and AGM-123 Skipper II. Later the JDAM and JSOW-C (replaces Walleye) also added to the list.
Spoiler
F/A-18C/D carries four AN/ALE-47 dispensers under air intake, for 120 countermeasures.
Spoiler
In 1995, the U.S. Navy completed successful test and evaluation of BOL dispensers (LAU-138A/A) on F/A-18C/D. Additional integration work was also carried out until at least 2000.
Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 56 ft (17.07 m)
Wingspan:
- 40.4 ft (12.31 m) w/ missile
- 38.4 ft (11.7 m) w/o missile
- 37.5 ft (11.43 m) w/o missile and launcher
Height: 15.3 ft (4.66 m)
Wing area: 400 sq ft (37.17 m²)
Aspect ratio: 3.52
Weights:
- 23,000 lbs (10,433 kg) empty
- 51,900 lbs (23,540 kg) maximum takeoff
Fuel:
- Internal: 10,860 lb (4,925 kg)
- External: 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) with 3× FPU-8/A fuel tanks
Powerplant: 2x F404-GE-402
- Uninstalled intermediate thrust: 11,000 lbf (48.9 kN)
- Uninstalled maximum thrust: 17,600 lbf (78.2 kN)
- Installed maximum thrust at sea level:
- @ Mach 0.8: 19,342 lbf (86 kN)
- @ Mach 0.9: 19,310 lbf (85.9 kN)
- @ Mach 1.0: 19,062 lbf (84.8 kN)
- @ Mach 1.2: 17,376 lbf (77.3 kN)
- Installed maximum thrust at 5,000 ft (1.5 km):
- @ Mach 0.8: 17,612 lbf (78.3 kN)
- @ Mach 0.9: 18,261 lbf (81.2 kN)
- @ Mach 1.0: 18,907 lbf (84.1 kN)
- @ Mach 1.2: 18,172 lbf (80.8 kN)
- Installed maximum thrust at 20,000 ft (6.1 km):
- @ Mach 0.8: 11,152 lbf (49.6 kN)
- @ Mach 0.9: 12,202 lbf (54.3 kN)
- @ Mach 1.0: 13,232 lbf (58.9 kN)
- @ Mach 1.2: 14,982 lbf (66.6 kN)
- @ Mach 1.4: 16,552 lbf (73.6 kN)
- Installed maximum thrust at 40,000 ft (12.2 km):
- @ Mach 0.8: 4,665 lbf (20.8 kN)
- @ Mach 0.9: 5,134 lbf (22.8 kN)
- @ Mach 1.0: 5,631 lbf (25 kN)
- @ Mach 1.2: 6,993 lbf (31.1 kN)
- @ Mach 1.4: 8,678 lbf (38.6 kN)
- @ Mach 1.6: 9,740 lbf (43.3 kN)
Performances:
(Note: ‘fighter escort configuration’ is 60% internal fuel, 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder, 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM)
- Maximum speed (fighter escort configuration):
- @ Sea level: Mach 1.06
- @ 35,000 ft (10.6 km): Mach 1.76
- Design limit speed (fighter escort configuration):
- @ Sea level: Mach 1.1
- @ 35,000 ft (10.6 km): Mach 2.0
- Climb rate: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
- Altitude: 50,000 ft (15,250 m)
- Sustained turn rate (fighter escort configuration):
- @ Sea level: 19.2°/s
- @ 15,000 ft (4.5 km): 12.3°/s
- Instantaneous bleed rate in a turn (fighter escort configuration):
- @ Sea level: 54 kt (100 km/h) per second
- @ 15,000 ft (4.5 km): 62 kt (115 km/h) per second
- Acceleration time (fighter escort configuration):
- @ 5,000 ft (1.5 km), from Mach 0.8-1.08: 21 seconds
- @ 20,000 ft (6.1 km), from Mach 0.8-1.2: 34.6 seconds
- @ 35,000 ft (10.6 km), from Mach 0.8-1.2: 55.8 seconds
- Thrust-to-weight (fighter escort configuration):
- @ Sea level, static: 0.845
- @ 5,000 ft (1.5 km), Mach 0.9: 0.981
- @ 20,000 ft (6.1 km), Mach 0.9: 0.685
- @ 35,000 ft (10.6 km), Mach 0.9: 0.385
- Specific excess power (1 g level flight, Mach 0.9, fighter escort configuration):
- @ 10,000 ft (3 km): 699 ft/s (213 m/s)
- @ 20,000 ft (6.1 km): 512 ft/s (156 m/s)
- @ 35,000 ft (10.6 km: 247 ft/s (75 m/s)
- Maximum command limit g: -3 ~ +10 g
- Lift-off speed: 115 knot (213 km/h)
- Approaching speed: 140 knot (260 km/h)
Armament:
- Hardpoints: 9 total (2× wingtip, 4× under wing, 3× fuselage)
- Gun: 1× M61A1/A2 20 mm gun (578 rounds)
- Air-to-air Missiles:
- AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder
- AIM-7F/M/P Sparrow
- AIM-120A/B/C/D AMRAAM
- Air-to-surface missiles:
- AGM-45 Shrike
- AGM-65E/F Maverick
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- AGM-84E SLAM
- AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-123 Skipper II
- Guided bombs:
- AGM-62 Walleye (until 1997)
- AGM-154C JSOW
- GBU-10/12/16 Paveway II
- GBU-24B/B Paveway III
- GBU-31/32/38 JDAM
- Guided rockets:
- APKWS II (USMC)
- Unguided bombs:
- Mk 20 Rockeye cluster bombs
- Mk 82/83/84 general-purpose bombs
- Mk 82 Snakeye high-drag bombs
- Mk 83 AIR high-drag bombs
- Mk 77 incendiary bombs
- Unguided rockets:
- Hydra 70 2.75-inch rockets
- Zuni 5-inch rockets
Avionics:
- Radar: Hughes AN/APG-73
- RWR: AN/ALR-67(V)
- EO sensors:
- AN/AAS-38/38A/38B NITE Hawk
- AN/AAQ-28(V)4 LITENING AT (USMC, since 2006)
- AN/AAR-50 TINS (since 1988)
- AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR (since 2003)
- HMD: JHMCS (since 2006)
- Night vision devices:
- GEC-Marconi Cats Eyes (F/A-18C/D since 1988)
- Vision Systems NVCD (for JHMCS)
Countermeasures:
- Internal: 4× AN/ALE-47 (120 total)
- External: 4× LAU-138 (640 total; tested)
Sources
- ADA142103 F/A-18 AN/APG-65 Radar Case Study Report by Paul F. Goree
- Aeroguide 20: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet by Roger Chesneau
- AN/AAS-38/38A/B by Airborne Electronics Forecast
- AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING AT brochure from Northrop Grumman and Rafael
- AN/ALE-58(V) BOL EW Dispenser System from Teal Group Corporation
- AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR brochure from Raytheon
- An Illustrated Guide to Modern Fighter Combat (1987) by Mike Spick
- Asia-Pacific Defense Reporter Volume 21
- Aviation Classics issue 23
- BOL chaff FCT extended; F/A-18 use considered from Aviation Week Network
- Chapter 1 Radar Fundamentals by 곽영길
- Combat effectiveness of the joint helmet mounted cueing system by Taylor N. Thorson
- Counter Measure Dispensing System for missile’s imaging and infrared seeking by Ashutosh Guda, S Sajid Hussain, Sowmith Chakilela, Azhagiri. M
- Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, 1997
- Department of the Navy Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Budget Estimates, Justification of Estimates May 2009 - Aircraft Procurement, Navy, Volume II: Budget Acivity 5
- F/A-18C/D 20mm Gatling Gun System from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
- F/A-18 Hornet in action: Aircraft Number 136 by Lou Drendel
- F-18 Hornet in detail & scale part 1: Developmental & Early Production Aircraft by Don Linn
- F-18 Hornet in detail & scale part 2: Production Aircraft by Don Linn
- F/A-18 Hornet in Action No.214 by Lou Drendel
- Fighter Aircraft Avionics Part III by Solo Hermelin
- LITENING III brochure from Ultra Electronics
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Classic Warplanes) by Mike Spick
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Owners’ Workshop Manual: 1978 onwards (all marks) by Steve Davies
- Modern Military Aircraft: Hornet by Lou Drendel
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996
- NAVEDTRA 12308 Aviation Ordnanceman 3&2 (1990) (Distribution Statement A)
- NAVEDTRA 14313 Aviation Ordnanceman 3&2 (2001) (Distribution Statement A)
- N88-NTSP-A-50-9001B/P Navy Training System Plan for the AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing System
- NSIAD 96-98 from United States General Accounting Office
- Osprey Combat Aircraft Series: F/A-18 Hornet by Lindsay Peacock
- Raytheon Advanced Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pod by Gerald Uyeno
- Risk Management Lessons Learned from the APG-79 Radar Test Planning and Execution from VX-31
- Small Aperture Airborne Telescopes for Planetary Science from 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2015)
- Terminator ATFLIR brochure from Raytheon
- Using Helmet Mounted Displays to Designate and Locate Targets in the Urban Environment by Freddie Paul Henderson
- Walk Around No.18: F/A-18 Hornet by Greg Davis and Chris Neill
- WarbirdTech Series Volume 31: Boeing F/A-18 Hornet by Brad Elward