Superhornet (f/a18e/f) & Growler (ea-18g) Thread

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The Super Hornet is the US Navy's top fleet defense, war at sea, air superiority, and grouind attack/support aircraft and will remain so for the next 20 and more years. I thought we should have a thread here on SD regarding it.


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F/A-18F SUper Hornet

The Super Hornet was a major rebuild of the F/A-18C/D Hornet. It is really an all new aircraft, significantly modernized and enhanced, signifanctly larger, with a lot more range and weapons carrying capability. It became operational with the US Navy in 2001. To date, well over 500 have been built and it is now in operation with the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.


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EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft

An electronic warfare version, completely refitted for that role, the EA-18G Growler has now been produced and made operational. It is in the process of replacing the older EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft operated by the US Navy. A squadron of EA-18G Growlers will aboard each US Aircraft Carrier. The Australians are also buying 12 EA-18G Growlers for the Royal Australian Air Force.


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F/A-18 Advanced Super Hornet

A new, modernized and even more stealthy version of the aircraft has also been developed for the US Navy and is being marketed to other nations. This is the F/A-18 Advanced Super Hornet and adds internal, conformal fuel tanks, stealthy weapons pods, greater thrust, a new enhanced cockpit, and better infrared capabilities. The enhancemens can be retrofitted onto existing Super Hornets for $12-14 million per aircraft, or new builds can be manufactured for $56 million. These aircraft will have an almost 150 nm combat radius longer range, be up to 50% more stealthy, and be able to perform the same multi-role missions as the existing Super Hornets.

At to existing F/A-18E/F aircraft, here's an excellent (albeit long) video of the Super Hornet in action. Specifically, this is Strike Figter Squadron VFA-102, the Diamondbacks during their 2012 deployment attached to Cairrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 of the USS George Washington, CVN-73, carrier battle group.



Some great eye candy here that folks like Air Force Brat and others will really enjoy.
 
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asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Highlights of the super hornet is that it can conformal fuel tanks, enclosed weapons bay and new low cross section radar signature
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Highlights of the super hornet is that it can conformal fuel tanks, enclosed weapons bay and new low cross section radar signature
Yes, along with higher thrust engines, a new cockpit, and better IR capabilites. All of that translates into longer range and better stealth. The cost for a new build advanced Super Hornet will be $56 million. Not bad.
 
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Pointblank

Senior Member
Yes, along with hugher thrust engines, a new cockpit, and better IR capabilites. All of that translates into longer range and better stealth. The cost for a new build advanced Super Hornet will be $56 million. Not bad.

Actually, the GE F414EPE engine was cancelled. What the Super Hornet will maybe get instead is the GE F414EDE (Enhanced Durability Engine). The EDE entails improvements to the core and updated software to significantly improve the life of the engine, and as a side benefit reduce fuel burn. The EPE adds a new fan and changes in flow to the EDE, and that's where the extra thrust comes in while maintaining the durability. Problem is, although the Navy would love to have the EPE, especially for the Growler, they're not willing to fund its development, although they have said they'll try to fund the EDE (maybe).

Boeing and GE are not willing to fund the EPE on their own private dollars, as the market for an improved engine on the Super Hornet is extremely small anyways (the USN and the RAAF), and the users aren't all that interested in a more powerful engine. Beyond that, the enhanced thrust from the EPE engine will only serve to regain some lost performance from the CFT's and weapons pod.
 
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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The EPE adds a new fan and changes in flow to the EDE, and that's where the extra thrust comes in while maintaining the durability.
Uh..that's what I said. A higher thrust engine. I just did not go into all the details you provided. Thanks however for those details because they are certainly germaine to the discussion.

As to the loss from the weapons pod...come on, the existing super hornets carry all of that ordinance under their wings and under the fuselage, and the mission pod is designed to be stealthy, so it will be better for the loads carried.

And the tests already show that the conformal tanks allow for better operation in terms of drag than having a centerline fuel tank, as would be expected.


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navyreco

Senior Member
F/A-18F Super Hornet takes on a full load of Harpoons Anti-ship missiles for the first time


On runway 24 of U.S. Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland, a part of Boeing Harpoon missile history was recently witnessed when four of the proven Harpoon Block IC cruise missiles were uploaded onto a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet to undergo a rigorous flight test over the Atlantic Ocean. The test verified flight characteristics with the quad load-out; a Harpoon first.
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