F/A-18 Super Hornet: the Unidentified Flying Object

The Super Hornet is a bit unknown over here because Belgium has used the F-16 over the past decades. The Super Hornet is used by the US Navy and by Australia. It is a further development of the F/A-18 Hornet. The original F/A-18 was designed around the same time as the F-16. The F-16 proved to be more popular but the US Navy preferred a twin engine aircraft for their carriers. The newer Super Hornet joined the navy when the F14 Tomcat was retired. The Hornet is aproven aircraft but much more conventional than its competitors.

Air-to-ground mission

The A in F/A-18 stands for attack. The Super Hornet is pretty good at ground strikes. It has 11 hardpoints and can carry 8,050 kg (17,750 lb) of external fuel and ordnance. It has a large selection of air-to-ground weapons. It can carry pretty much anything in the US arsenal. It can carry up to three external fuel tanks. Conformal fuel tanks are a new feature that is being offered.

When it comes to survivability. the F/A-18 doesn't bring anything special. It is very much a 4th generation aircraft. But it has a special friend to help him out, the Boeing EA-18G Growler. This aircraft is specialised for electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses.

Air-to-air mission  

The Super Hornet is still just an updated Hornet. It is not really an air-superiority fighter like the Typhoon. But it can hold its own against most 4th generation aircraft. It performs best at slow speeds and low altitude. The Super Hornet has an AESA radar but it doesn't have a IRST system. Well, that is not entirely true. The Hornet can be fitted with an external fuel tank that has a IRST in the nose. I didn't know that MacGyver works for the Navy.

The Super Hornet can be equipped with the normal AIM-120 and AIM-9 missiles.

Cost and ease of maintenance

The Super Hornet is at the end of its production run. With a unit flyaway cost of around 60 million USD (54 million euro) it is quite cheap. The cost per flight hour is a bit of a mystery. Janes reports 11000 USD/ flight hour for the US Navy and 22000 USD/flight hour for Australia. Australia operates a much smaller number of aircraft and has bought them much later. The Australian figure is probably more relevant for Belgium.

Cooperation

Several European countries like Spain and Finland operate the old Hornet but none have the Super Hornet. The Super Hornet is only used by Australia and the US Navy. Not a lot of choice and both countries will purchase the F-35 as their future fighter. The production line of the F/A-18 is coming to a close. Any Super Hornets bought now will be last of the line. This raises some questions concerning future upgrades, maintenance and support. In fact the Belgian government will make its choice around 2018 and plans to take the new aircraft in service starting in 2023. Boeing might already close down the F/A-18 production line in 2017.   

Is it right for Belgium?

No, not really. Not a single European country has them. It costs about as much as a Gripen NG, but the Gripen is cheaper to operate. Boeing has talked about new upgrades like an internal IRST and integrating some of the EW equipment of the Growler into the normal Super Hornet but these are things that the Eurofighter and Rafale already have. These upgrades are not included in the price mentioned earlier so the upgraded Advanced Super Hornet will cost more.

The Super Hornet is not the best candidate for Belgium. It is more expensive than the Gripen and a lot less advanced than the Eurocanards. It only really has a chance if somebody absolutely wants to buy an American aircraft, but one that is cheaper than the F-35.