The U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet is soaring into the future with cutting-edge upgrades that ensure its place as a formidable asset in modern aerial combat.
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Pacific Ocean (Nov. 1, 2004) – An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the ÒBounty HuntersÓ of Strike Fighter Squadron Two (VFA-2), lower right, and an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the ÒMaraudersÓ of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Two (VFA-82), conducts in-flight refueling from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the Alaska Air National Guard. Both fighter aircraft are assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2), currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Perry Solomon (RELEASED)
As it continues to serve the fleet after nearly four decades, this multi-role fighter has received significant enhancements to maintain its competitive edge against evolving threats.
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ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 15, 2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 316 approaches for a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification after completing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. The overhaul was an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle. Carl VinsonÕs nuclear fuel was replenished and the shipÕs services and infrastructure upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Rowe/Released)
Having proven its mettle in the recent strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, the F/A-18 remains a tactical cornerstone for the U.S. Navy.
Employed from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Super Hornets demonstrated their precision strike capabilities, underscoring their strategic importance in the Navy’s operational arsenal.
The latest iteration, the Block III “Super ‘Duper’ Hornet,” features a streamlined cockpit with a customizable touchscreen, advanced network capabilities, and improved mission computing power. While it lacks full stealth technology, its reduced radar cross-section makes it harder to target.
This integration of the Advanced Cockpit System equips pilots with enhanced situational awareness, crucial for making split-second decisions in high-stakes scenarios.
Networking has become a battlefield essential, and the Block III does not disappoint with its Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked (DTP-N) mission computer, which is 17 times more powerful than its predecessor.
Block III will share information through the Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) data link.
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FIFTH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 3, 2007) An F/A-18F Super Hornet, from the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, makes a sharp turn above the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a regular scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr. (Released)
Yet, Boeing designers have worked to make the Block III harder to “lock on” to.
Durability is also a hallmark of the Block III, with a life expectancy of 10,000 flight hours. This marks a 66 percent increase over the Block II, translating to reduced costs and better sustainability for the U.S. Navy’s relentless combat operations.
Designed with China in mind, the Block III has more range than its predecessor. With conformal, shoulder-hugging, drag-reducing fuel tanks capable of carrying 3,500 pounds of fuel, the Block III will be able to conduct missions against Chinese targets that allow US aircraft carriers to loiter beyond the range of China’s hypersonic anti-ship missiles.
The evolution of the F/A-18 from its Block I origins in the 1970s to today’s formidable Block III highlights the Navy’s commitment to adapting its fleet to meet contemporary challenges.
From its historical achievements to its current enhancements, the F/A-18 Super Hornet stands as a testament to innovation and the relentless pursuit of aerial superiority.
The Boeing Company delivered two F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet test jets to the U.S. Navy in June 2020, with production to follow successful testing and a contract in place to provide 78 new-build F/A-18 Block III jets to the Service through the rest of this year.
