page_title: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
section_title: Operators
hierarchical_section_title: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet / Operators
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: F/A 18A Mc Donnell Douglas version A
context_page_description: The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft. Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations, and since 1986, by the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.
  The F/A-18 was designed to be a highly versatile aircraft due to its avionics, cockpit displays, and excellent aerodynamic characteristics, with the ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. The aircraft can perform fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role, and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.
context_section_description:  Australia
  Royal Australian Air Force - 55 F/A-18A and 16 F/A-18Bs in operation as of 2008  This was reduced to 53 F/A-18A and 16 F/A-18Bs in 2019 with transfer of two aircraft to Canada.
  No. 3 Squadron RAAF 1985–2017 (converted to F-35A)
  No. 75 Squadron RAAF
  No. 77 Squadron RAAF
  No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF 1985-2019 (converting to F-35A)
  Aircraft Research and Development Unit
   Canada
  Royal Canadian Air Force (see McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet)
   Finland
  Finnish Air Force - 55 F-18Cs and 7 F-18Ds in use as of 2015
  Karelian Air Command (No. 31 Squadron)
  Lapland Air Command (No. 11 Squadron)
  Satakunta Air Command (No. 21 Squadron, defunct 6/2014)
   Kuwait
  Kuwait Air Force - 31 F/A-18Cs and 8 F/A-18Ds in service as of November 2008
  9th Fighter and Attack Squadron
  25th Fighter and Attack Squadron
   Malaysia
  Royal Malaysian Air Force - 8 F/A-18Ds in operation as of November 2008
  No. 18 Squadron, RMAF Butterworth AB
   Spain
  Spanish Air Force - 85 F/A-18A/B in service.
  Ala de Caza 15 (15th Fighter Wing) Zaragoza AB, (151, 152 and 153 Squadrons)
  Ala de Caza 12, Torrejón AB (121 and 122 Squadrons)
  Ala 46, Gando AB (Canary islands), with Squadron 462 operating 20 ex-US Navy F/A-18s.
    Switzerland
  Swiss Air Force - 25 F/A-18Cs and 5 F/A-18Ds in service as of October 2017.
  Fliegerstaffel 11
  Fliegerstaffel 17
  Fliegerstaffel 18
   United States
  United States Navy (former operator)
  VFC-12 1990–present (Naval Air Reserve Force)
  VFA-15 1986–2017 (disestablished)
  VFA-22 1990–2004 (initially converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet, 2004–2007; subsequently converted to F/A-18F Super Hornet, 2007–present)
  VFA-25 1984–2013 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-27 1991–2004 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-34 1996–2019 (to convert to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-37 1990–2018 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-81 1988–2008 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-82 1987–2005 (disestablished)
  VFA-83 1988–2018 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-86 1987–2012 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-87 1986–2015 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-94 1990–2016 (converted to F/A-18F Super Hornet)
  VFA-97 1991–2015 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-105 1990–2006 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-106 1984–2018 (fleet replacement squadron for USN and USMC; operates F/A-18A/A+/B/C/D/E/F)
  VFA-113 1984–2016 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-115 1996–2001 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-122 2010-2013 (fleet replacement squadron for F/A-18E/F; legacy F/A-18A/A+/B/C/D Hornets phased out in 2013)
  VFA-125 1980–2010 (disestablished, former fleet replacement squadron for USN and USMC; aircraft transferred to VFA-122 and legacy F/A-18A/A+/B/C/D Hornets phased out in 2013)
  VFA-127 1989–1996 (disestablished)
  VFA-131 1984–2018 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-132 1984–1992 (disestablished)
  VFA-136 1985–2008 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-137 1985–2003 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-146 1989–2015 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-147 1989–2007 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-151 1986–2013 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-161 1986–1988 (disestablished)
  VFA-192 1986–2014 (converted to F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-195 1985–2011 (converted to the F/A-18E Super Hornet)
  VFA-201 1999–2007 (Naval Air Reserve Force; disestablished)
  VFA-203 1990–2004 (Naval Air Reserve Force; disestablished)
  VFA-204 1990–present (Naval Air Reserve Force)
  VFA-303 1990–1994 (Naval Air Reserve Force; disestablished)
  VFA-305 1990–1994 (Naval Air Reserve Force; disestablished)
  VX-4 1982-1994 (merged with VX-5 in 1994 to form VX-9)
  VX-5 1983-1994 (merged with VX-4 in 1994 to form VX-9)
  VX-9 1994–present
  VX-23
  VX-31
  Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center / Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center
  United States Marine Corps Aviation 273 F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornets in operation as of 2015
  VMFA-112 1992–present (Marine Air Reserve)
  VMFA-115 1985–present
  VMFA-122 1986–2017(converted to F-35B)
  VMFA-134 1989–2007 (Marine Corps Reserve; placed in cadre status)
  VMFA-142 1990–2008 (Marine Corps Reserve; placed in cadre status)
  
caption: F/A-18A Hornets in various color schemes
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