Boeing F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet The Boeing F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet is a twin - engine carrier - based multirole fighter aircraft variant based on the McDonnell Douglas F / A - 18 Hornet . The F / A - 18E single - seat and F / A - 18F tandem - seat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F / A - 18C and D Hornet . The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air - to - air missile s and air - to - surface weapons . Additional fuel can be carried in up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air refueling system . Designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas , the Super Hornet first flew in 1995 . Full - rate production began in September 1997 , after the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing the previous month . The Super Hornet entered service with the United States Navy in 1999 , replacing the Grumman F - 14 Tomcat , which was retired in 2006 , and serves alongside the original Hornet . The Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) , which has operated the F / A - 18A as its main fighter since 1984 , ordered the F / A - 18F in 2007 to replace its aging F - 111 fleet . RAAF Super Hornets entered service in December 2010 . Development . Origins . The Super Hornet is a further evolutionary redesign of the McDonnell Douglas F / A - 18 Hornet . But the origins of the unique wing and tail configuration of the Super Hornet can be traced back to an internal Northrop project P - 530 , c . 1965 . The design started as a substantial rework of the lightweight F - 5E with a larger wing , twin tail fins and a distinctive leading edge root extension ( LERX ) which led to the " Cobra " nickname . It eventually flew as the Northrop YF - 17 " Cobra " competing in the United States Air Force ' s Lightweight Fighter ( LWF ) program . The LWF aimed to produce a smaller and simpler fighter to complement the larger F - 15 Eagle . The Navy directed that the YF - 17 be redesigned into the larger F / A - 18 Hornet which met a requirement for a smaller multi - role fighter to complement the larger F - 14 Tomcat which served in air superiority and fleet defense interceptor roles . The Hornet proved to be effective and popular , but limited in combat radius . The ultimate evolution would grow the design into the Super Hornet with empty weight slightly greater than the F - 15C . The concept of an enlarged Hornet was first proposed in 1980s , when an early version was marketed by McDonnell Douglas as " Hornet 2000 " . The Hornet 2000 concept was an advanced version of the F / A - 18 with a larger wing and a longer fuselage to carry more fuel and more powerful engines . The Hornet 2000 study was officially announced by McDonnell Douglas in January 1988 . At the same time , U . S . Naval Aviation faced a number of problems . The McDonnell Douglas A - 12 Avenger II program , intended to replace the obsolete Grumman A - 6 Intruder and LTV A - 7 Corsair II , had run into serious problems and was canceled . During this time , the end of the Cold War resulted in military restructuring and budget cuts . With no clean - sheet program in the works , the Navy considered updating an existing design a more attractive approach . As an alternative to the A - 12 , McDonnell Douglas proposed the " Super Hornet " ( initially " " Hornet II " " in the 1980s ) to improve early F / A - 18 models , and serve as an alternate replacement for the A - 6 Intruder . At the same time , the Navy needed a fleet defense fighter to replace the canceled Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter ( NATF ) , which was a proposed navalized variant of the Lockheed Martin F - 22 Raptor . Testing and production . The Super Hornet was first ordered by the U . S . Navy in 1992 . The Navy would also direct that this fighter replace the aging F - 14 Tomcat , essentially basing all naval combat jets on Hornet variants until the introduction of the F - 35C Lightning II . The Navy retained the F / A - 18 designation to help sell the program to Congress as a low - risk " derivative " , though the Super Hornet is largely a new aircraft . The Hornet and Super Hornet share many design and flight characteristics , including avionics , ejection seats , radar , armament , mission computer software , and maintenance / operating procedures . In particular the initial F / A - 18E / F retained most of the avionics systems from the F / A - 18C / D ' s configuration at the time . The Super Hornet first flew on 29 November 1995 . Initial production on the F / A - 18E / F began in 1995 . Flight testing started in 1996 with the F / A - 18E / F ' s first carrier landing in 1997 . Low - rate production began in March 1997 with full production beginning in September 1997 . Testing continued through 1999 , finishing with sea trials and aerial refueling demonstrations . Testing involved 3 , 100 test flights covering 4 , 600 flight hours . The Super Hornet underwent U . S . Navy operational tests and evaluations in 1999 , and was approved in February 2000 . The Navy considers acquisition of the Super Hornet a success with it meeting cost , schedule , and weight ( 400 lb , 181 kg below ) requirements . Despite having the same general layout and systems , the Super Hornet differs in many ways from the original F / A - 18 Hornet . The Super Hornet is informally referred to as the " Rhino " to distinguish it from earlier model " legacy " Hornets and to prevent confusion in radio calls . This aids safe flight operations , since the catapult and arresting systems must be set differently for the heavier Super Hornet . ( The " Rhino " nickname was earlier used by the McDonnell Douglas F - 4 Phantom II , which was retired from the fleet in 1987 . ) The U . S . Navy currently flies both the F / A - 18E single - seater and F / A - 18F two - seater in combat roles , taking the place of the retired F - 14 , A - 6 Intruder , Lockheed S - 3 Viking , and KA - 6D . An electronic warfare variant , the EA - 18G Growler , will replace the aging EA - 6B Prowler . The Navy calls this reduction in aircraft types a " neck - down " . In the Vietnam War era , the Super Hornet ' s capabilities were covered by no less than the A - 1 / A - 4 / A - 7 ( light attack ) , A - 6 ( medium attack ) , F - 8 / F - 4 ( fighter ) , RA - 5C ( recon ) , KA - 3 / KA - 6 ( tanker ) and EA - 6 ( electronic warfare ) . It is anticipated that $ 1 billion in fleet wide annual savings will result from replacing other types with the Super Hornet . In 2003 , the Navy identified a flaw in the Super Hornet ' s under wing pylons , which could reduce the aircraft ' s service life unless repaired . The problem has been corrected on new airframes and existing aircraft have begun to be repaired starting in 2009 . Improvements and changes . After initial fleet integration began , Boeing upgraded to the Block II version of the aircraft , incorporating an improved Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA ) radar , changing to larger displays , integrating joint helmet mounted cuing system , and replacing many aircraft avionics . The Block II configuration has the avionics and weapons systems that were being developed for the proposed production JSF version of the Boeing X - 32 . As part of the Block II configuration , new - build aircraft received the APG - 79 AESA radar beginning in 2005 ; earlier production aircraft will have their APG - 73 replaced with the APG - 79 . In January 2008 , it was announced that 135 aircraft were to be retrofitted with AESA radars . In early 2008 , Boeing discussed the development of a Super Hornet Block III with the U . S . and Australian military , featuring additional stealth capabilities and extended range ; a long - term successor is to be developed under the Next Generation Air Dominance program . In 2010 , Boeing offered India and other international customers the Super Hornet " International Roadmap " , which included conformal fuel tanks , enhanced engines , an enclosed weapons pod ( EWP ) , a next - generation cockpit , a new missile warning system , and an internal infra - red search and track ( IRST ) system . The enclosed weapons pods ( EWP ) are to have four internal stations for two AIM - 120 AMRAAM s and two 500 lb Joint Direct Attack Munitions ; a total of three EWPs could be carried , one belly mounted and one under each wing , for a total combat load of up to 12 AMRAAMs and 2 Sidewinders . The next - generation cockpit shall feature a large 19 in x 11 inch touch - sensitive display . In 2009 , development had commenced on several engine improvements , including greater resistance to foreign object damage , reduced fuel burn rate , and potentially increased thrust of up to 20 % . In 2007 , Boeing stated that a passive Infrared Search and Track ( IRST ) sensor would be a future option for the Super Hornet . The sensor would be mounted in a modified centerline fuel tank and would detect long wave IR emissions for detecting and tracking targets such as other aircraft . The IRST coupled with the new AIM - 9X Block III Sidewinder missile will allow the F / A - 18 to attack enemy aircraft at range without disruption from radar jamming and spoofing . On 18 May 2009 , Lockheed Martin announced it had been selected by Boeing to conduct the technology development phase of the IR sensor . Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to develop the IRST on 22 November 2011 . the basic IRST will be fielded in 2016 and a longer - range version in 2019 , but the 2013 sequestration cuts could push those dates back by two years . Additionally , in 2011 Boeing received a contract to develop a new mission computer . Northrop Grumman and Boeing have been self - funding a prototype of the Advanced Super Hornet . The Advanced Super Hornet is to demonstrate several improvements to the aircraft ; the prototype has a reduced radar cross - section ( RCS ) , is outfitted with conformal fuel tanks ( CFT ) , and a new enclosed weapons pod . The new RCS treatments reduce the frontal radar cross - section by 50 percent and the CFTs boost its range by . Other efforts include the integration of an internal infrared search and track system , and increasing the engine power by 20 percent . The improvements of the Advanced Super Hornet can also be integrated onto the EA - 18G Growler . Flight tests of the Advanced Super Hornet began on 5 August 2013 and continued for three weeks , testing the performance of CFTs , the enclosed weapons pod ( EWP ) , and signature enhancements . In March 2013 , the U . S . Navy revealed it is considering the widespread adoption of conformal fuel tank s , which would allow Super Hornet to carry of additional fuel . Budgetary pressures from the F - 35C Lightning II and operations in the Pacific region have been stated as reasons for adopting CFTs ; however , as the Super Hornet is not as powerful as other CFT - equipped aircraft , the additional weight and drag of the tanks may seriously impair aerodynamic performance . Boeing has stated that the CFTs do not add any cruise drag but acknowledge a negative impact would be imposed on transonic acceleration due to increased waved drag . General Electric ' s enhanced performance engine ( EPE ) , which would increase power output of the F414 - GE - 400 engines from 22 , 000 lb of thrust each to 26 , 400 lb of thrust each , has been suggested as a mitigating measure . At the Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show in March 2013 , Boeing displayed a mock - up of the proposed Super Hornet CFT on a static F / A - 18F . The CFTs could prove vital to free up underwing space and drag margin for the Next Generation Jammer on the Growler . Design . Overview . The Super Hornet is largely a new aircraft . It is about 20 percent larger , heavier empty weight , and heavier maximum weight than the original Hornet . The Super Hornet carries 33 percent more internal fuel , increasing mission range by 41 percent and endurance by 50 percent over the " Legacy " Hornet . The empty weight of the Super Hornet is about less than that of the F - 14 Tomcat which it replaced , while approaching , but not matching , the F - 14 ' s payload and range . The Super Hornet , unlike the previous Hornet , is designed so it can be equipped with an aerial refueling system ( ARS ) or " buddy store " for the refueling of other aircraft , filling the tactical airborne tanker role the Navy had lost with the retirement of the KA - 6D and Lockheed S - 3B Viking tankers . The ARS includes an external tank with hose reel on the centerline , along with four external tanks and internal tanks , for a total of of fuel on the aircraft . Airframe changes . The forward fuselage is unchanged , but the remainder of the aircraft shares little with earlier F / A - 18C / D models . The fuselage was stretched by to make room for fuel and future avionics upgrades and increased the wing area by 25 % . However , the Super Hornet has 42 % fewer structural parts than the original Hornet design . The General Electric F414 engine , developed from the Hornet ' s F404 , has 35 % additional thrust over most of the aircraft ' s flight envelope . The Super Hornet can return to an aircraft carrier with a larger load of unspent fuel and munitions than the original Hornet . The term for this ability is known as " bringback " . Bringback for the Super Hornet is in excess of . Other differences include approximately rectangular intakes for the engines and two extra wing hard points for payload ( for a total of 11 ) , retaining previous hardpoints on the bottom centerline , wingtips , and two conformal fuselage positions . Among the most significant aerodynamic changes are the enlarged leading edge extension s ( LEX ) which provide improved vortex lifting characteristics in high angle of attack maneuvers , and reduce the static stability margin to enhance pitching characteristics . This results in pitch rates in excess of 40 degrees per second , and high resistance to departure from controlled flight . < ref name = Boeing _ E / F > " F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet . " Boeing . Retrieved : 16 August 2010 . < / ref > Radar signature reduction measures . Survivability is an important feature of the Super Hornet design . The U . S . Navy took a " balanced approach " to survivability in its design . This means that it does not rely on low - observable technology , such as stealth systems , to the exclusion of other survivability factors . Instead , its design incorporates a combination of stealth , advanced electronic - warfare capabilities , reduced ballistic vulnerability , the use of standoff weapons , and innovative tactics that cumulatively and collectively enhance the safety of the fighter and crew . The F / A - 18E / F ' s radar cross - section was reduced greatly from some aspects , mainly the front and rear . The design of the engine inlets reduces the aircraft ' s frontal radar cross - section . The alignment of the leading edges of the engine inlets is designed to scatter radiation to the sides . Fixed fanlike reflecting structures in the inlet tunnel divert radar energy away from the rotating fan blades . The Super Hornet also makes considerable use of panel joint serration and edge alignment . Considerable attention has been paid to the removal or filling of unnecessary surface join gaps and resonant cavities . Where the F / A - 18A - D used grilles to cover various accessory exhaust and inlet ducts , the F / A - 18E / F uses perforated panels that appear opaque to radar waves at the frequencies used . Careful attention has been paid to the alignment of many panel boundaries and edges , to direct reflected waves away from the aircraft in uniformly narrow angles . It is claimed that the Super Hornet employs the most extensive radar cross section reduction measures of any contemporary fighter , other than the F - 22 and F - 35 . While the F / A - 18E / F is not a true stealth fighter like the F - 22 , it will have a frontal radar cross - section an order of magnitude smaller than prior generation fighters . Additional RCS reduction measures can be installed on an as needed basis . Avionics . Initially , the Super Hornet ' s avionics and software had a 90 % commonality with that of the F / A - 18C / D fleet at the time . Differences include a touch - sensitive , up - front control display ; a large liquid - crystal multipurpose color display ; and a fuel display . The Super Hornet has a quadruplex digital fly - by - wire system , as well as a digital flight - control system that detects and corrects for battle damage . Initial production models used the APG - 73 radar , later replaced by the APG - 79 Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA ) . The AN / ASQ - 228 ATFLIR ( Advanced Targeting Forward Looking InfraRed ) , is the main electro - optical sensor and laser designator pod for the Super Hornet . The communications equipment consist of an AN / ARC - 210 VHF / UHF radio and a MIDS low volume terminal for HAVE QUICK , SINCGARS and Link 16 connectivity . The defensive countermeasures of Block I aircraft includes the AN / ALR - 67 ( V ) 3 radar warning receiver , the AN / ALE - 47 countermeasures dispenser , the AN / ALE - 50 towed decoy and the AN / ALQ - 165 Airborne Self - Protect Jammer ( ASPJ ) . Newer Block II aircraft replace the ALQ - 165 with the AN / ALQ - 214 Integrated Defensive Countermeasures ( IDECM ) system which consists of internally mounted threat receivers and optional self - protection jammers . The interior and exterior lighting on the Block II has also been changed to allow the air crew to use night vision goggles ( NVG ) . The older ALE - 50 decoys are being replaced by ALE - 55 towed decoys , which can transmit jamming signals based on data received from the IDECM . The improved AN / ALQ - 214 jammer was added on Super Hornet Block II . The Super Hornet Block II configuration includes the new APG - 79 AESA radar ; it enables its crew to execute simultaneous air - to - air and air - to - ground attacks . The APG - 79 also provides higher quality high - resolution ground mapping at long standoff ranges . The AESA radar can also detect smaller targets , such as inbound missiles and can track air targets beyond the range of the Super Hornet ' s own air to air missiles . VFA - 213 became " safe for flight " ( independently fly and maintain the F / A - 18F ) on 27 October 2006 and is the first Super Hornet squadron to fly AESA - equipped Super Hornets . The first Super Hornet upgraded with an aft cockpit Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System ( JHMCS ) was delivered to VFA - 213 on 18 May 2007 . The JHMCS provides multi - purpose aircrew situational awareness including high - off - bore - sight cuing of the AIM - 9X Sidewinder missile . The Shared Reconnaissance Pod ( SHARP ) is a high - resolution , digital tactical air reconnaissance system that features advanced day / night and all - weather capability . The Multifunctional Information Distribution System low volume communication terminal is being upgraded with the MIDS - JTRS system , which will allow a tenfold increase in bandwidth as well as compatibility with the Joint Tactical Radio System standards . Initial operational capability is planned for January 2011 . Operational history . United States Navy . The Super Hornet achieved initial operating capability ( IOC ) in September 2001 with the U . S . Navy ' s Strike Fighter Squadron 115 ( VFA - 115 ) at Naval Air Station Lemoore , California . VFA - 115 was also the first unit to take their F / A - 18 Super Hornets into combat . On 6 November 2002 , two F / A - 18Es conducted a " Response Option " strike in support of Operation Southern Watch on two surface - to - air missile launchers at Al Kut , Iraq and an air defense command and control bunker at Tallil air base . One of the pilots , Lieutenant John Turner , dropped JDAM bombs from the Super Hornet for the first time during combat . In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( Iraq War ) , VFA - 14 , VFA - 41 and VFA - 115 flew close air support , strike , escort , SEAD and aerial refueling sorties . Two F / A - 18Es from VFA - 14 and two F / A - 18Fs from VFA - 41 were forward deployed to the . The VFA - 14 aircraft flew mostly as aerial refuelers and the VFA - 41 fighters as Forward Air Controller ( Airborne ) or FAC ( A ) s . On 6 April 2005 , VFA - 154 and VFA - 147 ( the latter squadron then still operating F / A - 18Cs ) dropped two laser - guided bombs on an enemy insurgent location east of Baghdad . On 8 September 2006 , VFA - 211 F / A - 18F Super Hornets expended GBU - 12 and GBU - 38 bombs against Taliban fighters and Taliban fortifications west and northwest of Kandahar . This was the first time the unit was in combat with the Super Hornet . During the 2006 – 2007 cruise with , VFA - 103 and VFA - 143 supported Operations Iraqi Freedom , Enduring Freedom and operations off the Somali coast . Alongside " Legacy Hornet " squadrons , VFA - 131 and VFA - 83 , they dropped 140 precision guided weapons and performed nearly 70 strafing runs . In 2007 , Boeing proposed additional F / A - 18E / Fs to the U . S . Navy in a multi - year contract . In 2008 , it was reported that the Navy was considering buying additional F / A - 18 Super Hornets to bridge a " strike - fighter " gap . As of October 2008 , Boeing had delivered 367 Super Hornets to the U . S . Navy . On 6 April 2009 , Defense Secretary Gates announced that the Department of Defense intends to acquire further 31 F / A - 18s in FY2010 . Congressional action has requested that the DoD study a further multi - year contract in order to avoid a projected strike fighter shortfall . The FY2010 budget bill authorizes , but does not require , a multiyear purchase agreement for additional Super Hornets . On 14 May 2010 , it was reported that Boeing and the U . S . Department of Defense reached an agreement for a multi - year contract for an additional 66 F / A - 18E / Fs and 58 EA - 18Gs over the next four years . The latest order for 124 aircraft will raise the total fleet count to 515 F / A - 18E / Fs and 114 EA - 18Gs . However , the Navy is already 60 fighters below its validated requirement for fighter aircraft and this purchase will not close the gap . The deal was finalized on 28 September 2010 for a multi - year contract said to save $ 600 million ( over per year contracts ) for 66 Super Hornets and 58 Growlers and to help deal with a four - year delay in the F - 35 Joint Strike Fighter program . Royal Australian Air Force . On 3 May 2007 , the Australian Government signed a contract to acquire 24 F / A - 18Fs for the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) , at a cost of A $ 2 . 9 billion , as an interim replacement for the aging F - 111 s . The total cost with training and support over 10 years is A $ 6 billion ( US $ 4 . 6 billion ) . The order was controversial , with critics including some retired senior RAAF officers . Air Vice Marshal ( ret . ) Peter Criss , a former Air Commander , said he was " absolutely astounded " that the Australian government would spend $ 6 billion on an interim aircraft . Criss has also cited evidence given by the U . S . Senate Armed Services Committee that the Super Hornet Block I specific excess power is inferior to the MiG - 29 and Su - 30 , which have been operated , or ordered , by multiple air forces in South East Asia . Air Commodore ( ret . ) Ted Bushell stated that the F / A - 18F could not perform the role that the Australian government had given it , and the F - 111 would remain suitable for the strategic deterrent / strike role until at least 2020 . Some critics have claimed that the decision to buy the F / A - 18F could ease additional Super Hornet sales to Australia , particularly if the F - 35 program " encounter more problems " . A review of the purchase was announced on 31 December 2007 , by the new Australian Labor government , as part of a wider review of the RAAF ' s combat aircraft procurement plans . The main reasons given were concerns over operational suitability , the lack of a proper review process , and internal beliefs that an interim fighter was not required . On 17 March 2008 , the Government announced that it would proceed with plans to acquire all 24 F / A - 18Fs . Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said that the Super Hornet was an " excellent aircraft " . However , Fitzgibbon also indicated that costs and logistical factors contributed to the decision : retirement of the F - 111 had occurred in haste and was " irreversible " ; the F / A - 18F was " the only aircraft " that could " meet the small delivery window " , and " cancelling the Super Hornet would bring significant financial penalties and create understandable tensions between the contract partners . " The Block II package aircraft offered to the RAAF include installed engines and six spares , APG - 79 AESA radars , Link 16 connectivity , LAU - 127 guided missile launchers , AN / ALE - 55 fiber optic towed decoys and other equipment . The government has also sought U . S . export approval for Boeing EA - 18G Growler s . On 27 February 2009 , Fitzgibbon announced that 12 of the 24 Super Hornets would be wired on the production line for future modification as EA - 18Gs . The additional wiring would cost A $ 35 million . The final decision on conversion to EA - 18Gs , at a cost of A $ 300 million , would be made in 2012 . The first RAAF Super Hornet was completed in 2009 and first flew from Boeing ' s factory in St . Louis , Missouri on 21 July 2009 . RAAF pilots and air combat officers began training in the USA in 2009 , with No . 1 Squadron planned to become fully operational with the F / A - 18F in 2010 . The RAAF ' s first five Super Hornets arrived at their home base , RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland , on 26 March 2010 . These initial aircraft were joined by six more aircraft on 7 July 2010 . With the arrival of another four aircraft in December 2010 , the first RAAF F / A - 18F squadron was declared operational on 9 December 2010 . In December 2012 , the Australian government sought information from the United States government about the cost of acquiring a further 24 F / A - 18Fs . These aircraft may be purchased to avoid a capability gap developing due to delays to the F - 35 program . In February 2013 , the U . S . Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for up to 12 F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet and 12 EA - 18G Growler aircraft with associated equipment , parts , training and logistical support . In May 2013 , Australia announced they would keep the 24 F / A - 18F Super Hornets they currently have instead of converting them , and will order 12 new - built EA - 18G Growler s . The government remains committed to the F - 35 Lightning II acquisition . Potential operators . The United States Marine Corps has avoided the Super Hornet program and their resistance is so high that they would rather fly former Navy F / A - 18Cs that have been replaced with Super Hornets . This is said to be because they fear that any Super Hornet buys will be at the cost of the F - 35B STOVL fighters that they intend to operate from amphibious ships . As a concession , the Marine Corps has agreed to eventually equip five Marine fighter - attack squadrons ( VMFA ) with the F - 35C carrier variant to continue to augment Navy carrier air wings as they currently do with the F / A - 18C . Boeing offered Malaysia the Super Hornets as part of a buy - back package for its existing F / A - 18 Hornets in 2002 . However , the Super Hornet procurement was halted in 2007 after the government decided to purchase the Sukhoi Su - 30MKM instead . But RMAF Chief Gen . Datuk Nik Ismail Nik Mohamaed indicated that the RMAF had not planned to end procurement of the Super Hornets , instead saying that the air force needed such fighters . Boeing delivered Super Hornet proposals to the Danish and Brazilian governments in 2008 . The Super Hornet is one of three fighter aircraft in a Danish competition to replace 48 F - 16s . In October 2008 , it was reported that the Super Hornet was selected as one of three finalists in Brazil ' s fighter competition . Brazil has put forward an initial requirement for 36 aircraft , with a potential total purchase of 120 examples . In 2008 , the Danish Air Force had been offered the Super Hornet ; however , to date , no order has been placed . For India ' s ongoing MMRCA competition , Boeing offered a customized variant called F / A - 18IN , which included Raytheon ' s APG - 79 AESA radar . In August 2008 , Boeing submitted an industrial participation proposal to India describing partnerships with companies in India . The Indian Air Force ( IAF ) extensively evaluated the Super Hornets and conducted field trials in August 2009 . However , in April 2011 , the IAF rejected F / A - 18IN ' s bid in favor of the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale . On 10 March 2009 , Boeing offered the Super Hornet for Greece ' s Next - Generation Fighter Program . On 1 August 2010 , " The Sunday Times " reported that the British government was considering canceling orders for the F - 35 Lightning II and buying the Super Hornet instead for its Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier s . It was stated that this would save the UK defense budget about £10 billion . An industry source suggested that the Super Hornet could be ski jump launched without catapults . The UK has reverted to a STOVL aircraft carrier , thus ending possibly of a Super Hornet purchase . The United Arab Emirates has asked for information on the Super Hornet . Boeing stated that the " stealth characteristics " of the Super Hornet were ignored in Canada ' s sole source selection of the F - 35 . In April 2012 , Canada was reviewing its plans to procure the F - 35 and may consider buying the Super Hornet instead . In September 2013 , Boeing provided Canada with cost and capability data for its Advanced F / A - 18 Super Hornet , suggesting that a fleet of 65 aircraft would cost $ 1 . 7 billion less than a fleet of F - 35s . The Advanced Super Hornet builds upon the existing Super Hornet , which is an improvement of the current CF - 18 Hornet . The U . S . Navy buys Super Hornets for $ 52 million per aircraft , while the advanced version would add $ 6 – $ 10 million per aircraft , depending on options selected . In early 2011 , Bulgaria was considering the F / A - 18 Super Hornet , among other aircraft , as a replacement for its MiG - 21 fleet . Boeing offered the F - 18 Super Hornet to the Swiss Air Force as a replacement for Swiss F - 5E Tigers but Boeing withdrew from the competition . Operators . Each United States Navy squadron has a standard unit establishment of 12 aircraft . Notable appearances in media . Jane ' s Combat Simulations released a simulator based on the F / A - 18E Super Hornet titled " Jane ' s F / A - 18 " in 2000 . The Super Hornet is the main carrier jet in the film " Behind Enemy Lines " .