Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Tactical strike fighter

Power Plant:

Two 15,800 lbst General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans

Specifications:

• Max loaded weight: 25,400 kg (56,000 lb)
  

  Armament:

  One M-61A-1 multi-barrel 20 mm cannon in forward fuselage with 540 rounds; nine stores stations: one on centre-line for bombs or fuel tanks; two on fuselage for Sparrow missiles or sensor pods; four on wings for air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, bombs or fuel tanks; and two at wingtips for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; max external ordinance load 7,711 kg (17,000 lb).

  History:

  The origins of the FA-18 Hornet stem from the design by Northrop in the late 1960s of the P-530 Cobra. Two prototypes, designated YF-17, were flown against the YF-16 to meet a USAF requirement for a light-weight fighter. The F-16 was ultimately chosen to meet this role. The design of the YF-17 was subsequently re-configured to meet a US Navy and Marine Corps requirement. Northrop and McDonnell Douglas shared the development, with the latter company eventually becoming the prime contractor, and Northrop an associate contractor. These roles would have been reversed in the event that the design was chosen by any air arm division in the land-based role. On 2 May 1975 the FA-18 was chosen for the US Navy. A total requirement of 800 aircraft, consisting of 430 fighters, 310 attack aircraft, and 60 two-seat trainers was expected. In mid-1980 the type was chosen for the Canadian Armed Forces (137) and later the Spanish Air Force (72).

  To meet the US Navy requirement no significant aerodynamic changes were necessary to the YF-17, but the overall design needed to be enlarged to permit an extra 1,997 kg (4,400 lb) of fuel to be carried, and a larger radar was fitted to provide interception at greater ranges. The airframe had to be strengthened to permit catapult launches aircraft from carriers, and the wing area increased to bring the wing loading within acceptable limits. Armament was unchanged, but the external weapons load was increased to a maximum of 7,711 kg (17,000 lb). Provision was made for the wings to fold for carrier stowage, thus reducing the span to 7.62 m (25 ft).

  The power plant chosen, the General Electric F404, was a low by-pass turbofan based on the YJ101 as fitted to the YF-17. The Hughes AN/APG-65 radar was designed for the FA-18, and was an all-digital multi-mode system intended for both air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon delivery. A Martin-Baker SJU-5/A ejection seat was fitted. Assembly of production aircraft for the US Navy took place in the St Louis facility of McDonnell Douglas in Missouri, with both the FA-18 fighters and the TF-18A two-seaters on the production line. The Series is operated by the US Navy; and is the mount for the Blue Angels aerobatic display team. Other operators of the type include Canada, Spain, Kuwait, Switzerland, and South Korea.

  In December 1981 the Australian Government announced an order for 75 FA-18 fighters comprising 57 single-seaters (A21-1 to A21-57 – c/ns AF1 to AF57) and 18 two-seaters (A21-101 to A21-118 – c/ns ATF1 to ATF-18). The first two aircraft (A21-101 and A21-102), both TF-18A two-seaters, were built in the US and for some time were used for training RAAF instructors with VFA-125 at Lemoore Naval Air Station, California. They were then flown non-stop 12,364 km (7,683 miles) from Lemoore to Williamtown RAAF Base with a USAF McDonnell Douglas KC-10 tanker, making 13 air-to-air refuelling operations.

  They arrived on 17 May 1985 after a flight of 15 hours, and immediately entered service with No 2 Operational Conversion Unit. Shortly thereafter they were joined by two more TF-18As (A21-103 and A21-104). These were the first two assembled in Australia and had arrived at Avalon, VIC on 6 June 1984 on board a USAF Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. The first flight of the first Australian-assembled aircraft (A21-103 – c/n AFT3) was made on 26 February 1985, reaching a speed of Mach 1.6 at 12,192 m (40,000 ft), and later being accepted by the RAAF on 30 April 1985. The first F/A18A (A21-1) was delivered to the RAAF in November 1985 and the last (A21-57) in May 1990, some 73 having been assembled by the then Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) at Avalon.

  Production of the series took place at Avalon, and deliveries were made to Williamtown where the type has been operated by No 2 Operational Conversion Unit. During 1986 No 3 Squadron began to receive its complement of 16 aircraft and worked up to full operational capability. Three Squadrons were equipped with the type, Nos 3 (in August 1986), 75 (in May 1988) and 77 (in June 1987), two squadrons being based at Williamtown and one at Tindal in the Northern Territory. The type was up-dated progressively over the years, the first upgrade programme in 1990 being close to FA-18C and D specifications, involving structural modifications to increase airframe life and making provision for electronic advances. Further modifications permitted provision to carry AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, forward looking Infra Red (FLIR) equipment, upgraded Hughes radar, and modifications to the engines.

  The type has been deployed overseas on a number of occasions. Deployments have taken place to Butterworth in Malaysia, and to Singapore, to attend five-power Integrated Air Defence System exercises. They have also exercised in the Philippines and Thailand. In January 1986 RAAF Hornets attended the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore, and in 2000 two aircraft of 75 Squadron operating from Singapore were photographed formating with Soviet-built SU-27 “Flanker” fighters. Through attrition a number have been lost in accidents, and these include: A21-104 (c/n ATF4) on 18 December 1987 at Great Palm Island, QLD; A21-106 (c/n ATF6) on 19 May 1992 at Shoalwater Bay, QLD; A21-41 (c/n AF41) on 5 June 1991 100 km northeast of Weipa, QLD; and A21-42 (c/n AF42) on 2 August 1990 near Tindal, NT.

  Over the years the surviving 55 FA-18As and 16 FA-18Bs Hornets have undergone further upgrading under various projects, these being designed to increase the aircraft’s resistance to electronic attack, enhanced radar, more precision in target recognition, reduced vulnerability and increasing inter-operability with other aircraft. Although the Australian Government indicated it had ordered the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter as a replacement, the scheduled life of the FA-18 was expected to take it to at least 2018 in RAAF service. Upgrading has also permitted the Hornet to operate new weapons, such as the MBDA AIM-132 advanced short-range air-to-air missile and new guided bombs. Examples have been attached to the Aircraft Research & Development Unit (ARDU), being involved in Hornet upgrades and engineering and flight testing to integrate new weapon systems.

  On 13 December 2017 the Australian Defence Minister stated the Government had agreed to sell 18 FA-18A and B ex-RAAF aircraft to the RCAF, the aircraft to supplement the Canadian fleet of flyable airframes and spares holdings in order to extend the life of the type in Canadian service pending a decision being made on a permanent replacement air combat capability in 2019, the first two aircraft to be handed over in early 2019. The transfer of the aircraft was to be drawn out over a lengthy period due to Australia’s need to maintain a viable air combat capability until the F-35 achieved initial operating capability with No 3 Squadron in 2020.  A few of the Australian aircraft are expected to end up in museums.

  In June 2018 it was announced the Canadian Government increased its request for aircraft from 17 to 25, the additional seven aircraft to be broken down and used for spare parts. On 3 January 2019 it was announced 18 Hornets were to be delivered and a further seven were to be acquired for spare parts and testing. Plans were made for modifications and upgrades to allow them to remain in Canadian service to 2032. It is expected a few will be retired to aviation museums in Australia.

  In late 2020 A21-002 was conveyed to Canberra for display at the Australian War Memorial. This aircraft had flown 6,131.5 hours during its 30 years of RAAF service and employed the first weapon during Operation Falconer in March 2003, being deployed with No 75  Squadron during OKRA in 2016.  In early 2023 Boeing announced it would stop production of the Hornet in 2025.

  A23-23, known as the Worimi Hornet, was retired and placed on display at the Williamtown Aviation Heritage Centre, NSW.