McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather supersonic, <a href="/facts/Twinjet/eahpYVVr">twin-engine</a>, <a href="/facts/Carrier-based_aircraft/JvQSNSke">carrier</a>-capable, <a href="/facts/Multirole_combat_aircraft/8l6FfCI9">multirole combat</a> aircraft, designed as both a <a href="/facts/Fighter_aircraft/NuIvaGJg">fighter</a> and <a href="/facts/Attack_aircraft/Rkc7Ft5I">attack aircraft</a> (hence the F/A <a href="/facts/1962_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designation_system/kHjJtWg2">designation</a>). Designed by <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas/cplglcRH">McDonnell Douglas</a> and <a href="/facts/Northrop_Corporation/X7DPKcx1">Northrop</a>, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's <a href="/facts/YF-17/xVhYcxsE">YF-17</a> in the 1970s for use by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a> and <a href="/facts/United_States_Marine_Corps/J8JDlJG2">Marine Corps</a>. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations, and formerly by the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the <a href="/facts/Blue_Angels/kMd8t15M">Blue Angels</a>.
The F/A-18 was designed to be a highly versatile aircraft due to its <a href="/facts/Avionics/F4gQJBJn">avionics</a>, <a href="/facts/Glass_cockpit/pmEDaQrF">cockpit displays</a>, and excellent <a href="/facts/Aerodynamic/Cn6Lnl3H">aerodynamic</a> characteristics, with the ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. The aircraft can perform <a href="/facts/Escort_fighter/Ky6woorM">fighter escort</a>, fleet <a href="/facts/Air_defense/fHtGQpLy">air defense</a>, <a href="/facts/Suppression_of_enemy_air_defenses/xAcsqTqr">suppression of enemy air defenses</a>, <a href="/facts/Air_interdiction/6RM1Dv9J">air interdiction</a>, <a href="/facts/Close_air_support/buqaXGIp">close air support</a>, and <a href="/facts/Aerial_reconnaissance/xvWXgLKT">aerial reconnaissance</a>. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset.
The Hornet entered operational service in 1983 and first saw combat action during the <a href="/facts/1986_United_States_bombing_of_Libya/RDUy95gt">1986 United States bombing of Libya</a> and subsequently participated in the 1991 <a href="/facts/Gulf_War/6LdLnGdo">Gulf War</a> and 2003 <a href="/facts/Iraq_War/dlAgf8at">Iraq War</a>. The F/A-18 Hornet served as the baseline for the <a href="/facts/Boeing_F%2fA-18E%2fF_Super_Hornet/TemtsKRp">Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet</a>, its larger, evolutionary redesign, which supplanted both the older Hornet and the <a href="/facts/F-14_Tomcat/Ana2Iw4D">F-14 Tomcat</a> in the U.S. Navy. The remaining legacy Hornets in the U.S. Navy were retired in 2019 with the fielding of the <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II/x0NWsvfC">F-35C Lightning II</a>.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet open-in-new

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet