The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine carrier-capable multirole fighter aircraft variants 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 M61 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles 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; the Super Hornet 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-111C fleet. RAAF Super Hornets entered service in December 2010.

Pictured here is a gorgeous 1:72 scale diecast replica of a US Navy F/A-18F Block III Advanced Super Hornet Strike Fighter that was assigned to the Boeing Testing Facility, in St. Louis, Missouri, during 2013. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 9-inches

Release Date: February 2021

Historical Account: "Kicking it Up a Notch" - The "F/A-18 XT" is the Advanced Super Hornet, or the Block III fighter jet concept for the Navy. The first operational F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet squadron formed in June 2001 and deployed into combat aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in July 2002. In April 2005, Boeing delivered the first Block II Super Hornet, complete with the world's first tactical multi-mode AESA radar, and it became fully operational at the end of 2007.

In August 2013, Boeing and Northrop Grumman conducted flight tests with a prototype of an Advanced Super Hornet with with conformal fuel tanks, an enclosed weapons pod and signature enhancements. In combination with other advanced capabilities to include enhanced engines, internal infrared search and track, and a next-gen cockpit, the Advanced Super Hornet offers domestic and international customers a menu of next-generation capabilities that will allow Super Hornets to outpace threats in the 2030+ anti-access, area-denial (A2/AD) environment -- affordably. The successful flights proved the Super Hornet can outpace threats through 2040.

More stealth, more range, more mission flexibility, more weapons -- are some of the advantages. Boeing advanced the stealth capability of the Super Hornet and give it that first-day-of-war capability. It can go farther into enemy territory without being detected, and bring much more to the fight.