McDonnell Douglas - F/A-18D Hornet


The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D is a twin-seat version of the F/A-18C often used for pilot training and multi-role operations. Entering service in 1987 and still serving today with the USMC the F/A-18D saw success during various conflicts and operations around the world.

History

In August 1971 the US Navy were looking for an alternative to the Grumman F-14 Tomcat that was cheaper and easier to service. Multiple proposals were made such as the F-14X by Grumman, a stripped down version of the F-14, and a naval variant of the F-15 by McDonnell Douglas. However the US Navy decided to look elsewhere for proposals as both would be almost as expensive as the current F-14’s that were in service. They looked at the proposals made to the US Airforce for their next fighter platform, those would be the YF-16 by General Dynamics, and the YF-17 by Northrop. The US Airforce chose the YF-16 and the Navy chose the YF-17.

As development began McDonnell Douglas would be brought on to be the primary contractor for the program with Northrop becoming the secondary partner. Both would work to improve upon the initial YF-17 design and in November of 1978 the Hornet would take it’s maiden flight. Originally starting as 3 variants, the single-seat F-18A, A-18A and twin-seat TF-18A, the F-18A and A-18A would be merged into one aircraft, now designated as the F/A-18A, and the TF-18A would be designated the F/A-18B. The now F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornet’s would enter service in 1983 with the USMC and 1984 with the US Navy.

In 1987, a block upgrade would see the F/A-18A/B upgraded to the F/A-18C/D. This upgrade would bring a new radar, more advanced avionics, and the ability to employ advanced weapons such as AIM-120 AMRAAM variants, advanced AIM-9 Sidewinders, air to ground guided bombs and missiles such as the AGM-84 SLAM-ER, AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missile and AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles to name a few.

The F/A-18D differs slightly from the F/A-18C, it has the obvious second cockpit which makes it slightly heavier and it has a smaller capacity for internally stored fuel. But other than those it was effectively the same as the C model.

Specifications

Size

  • Length - 17.1m
  • Wing Span - 12.3m
  • Height - 4.66m
  • Wing Span - 32m²

Weight

  • Empty Weight - 11,200kg
  • Max Weight - 23,400kg

Engines

  • 2 x F404-GE-402

Air to Air Missiles

  • AIM-9L/M/X Sidewinder
  • AIM-7M/P Sparrow
  • AIM-120A/B/C/D AMRAAM

Gun

  • M61A1 20mm Vulcan

Air-to-Ground Guided

  • AGM-45 Shrike
  • AGM-62 Walleye
  • AGM-84 Harpoon
  • AGM-84E SLAM
  • AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER
  • AGM-88 HARM
  • AGM-123 Skipper II
  • AGM-154 JSOW
  • AGM-158 JASSM
  • GBU-10/12/16 Paveway II
  • GBU-24B Paveway III
  • GBU-31/32/38 JDAM
  • GBU-54/56 LJDAM
  • APKWS II Guided Rockets

Air to Ground Unguided

  • MK 82/83/84 bombs
  • MK 82/83 high drag bombs
  • MK 77 incendiary bombs
  • Hydra 70 rockets
  • Zuni rockets

Avionics

  • AN/APG-73 Radar
  • AN/APG-79(V)4 AESA Radar(Tested and in development with USMC since 2022)
  • AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR
  • AN/AAQ-28(V)4 LITENING AT
  • AN/ASQ-228 ATLFIR
  • JHMCS HMD
  • AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures (120 total)
  • BOL Countermeasure Pods (Tested)
Would you like to see the F/A-18D in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
How should the F/A-18D be added?
  • Tech Tree Vehicle (Foldered with the F/A-18C)
  • Tech Tree Vehicle (Standalone, before/after F/A-18C)
  • Squadron Vehicle
  • Event Vehicle
  • Premium Vehicle
  • I said no
0 voters
What BR should it be?
  • 13.3
  • 13.7
  • 14.0
  • 14.3+
  • I said no
0 voters
Sources

America’s Navy - F/A-18A-D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike Fighter
Airfighters - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet Aircraft Data
Bundeswehr - F/A-18C/D Hornet
Military.com - F/A-18C/D Hornet
Wikipedia - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
NAVAIR - F/A-18 A-D Hornet
Wikiwand - McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

3 Likes

+1

wierd how so many suggestions are popping up now

1 Like

+1

Yea it’s been flooded with American and Japan air suggestions with the odd German ground and French air suggestions in between the hoard.

1 Like

Yeah I freaked out when I saw “99+ new topics” lmao

1 Like

It appears one of the suggestion moderators is finally coming out of hibernation.

3 Likes

Yeah… anyway, back to topic:
What would these twin seaters bring to the game? I know they look nice and all but afaik they would just be worse versions of their single seat counterpart, while costing something like 250k rp in a folder. Why should they be added?

I would say that one of the major selling points of twin-seaters is fillers to the existing lineup in either Air AB or Ground RB, so you have more options to keep playing in one match.

I’d argue they should be made as a folder vehicle of existing single-seat fighters or SQV, so your grind won’t be bloated.

Alright I guess… of course they should be foldered if they’re in the tech tree.
Though I’m not sure people would have two hornets in their lineup when they can have something else like a strike eagle

would be nice in game, i wonder how they’re gonna handle all the US 2-seater versions honestly. Things like the f15b / d, and later super hornet F model