Locate and attack targets in adverse weather and poor visibility or to precisely update the aircraft's location relative to targets during the approach, a capability that improves bombing accuracy. This ground mapping capability that permits crews to The new components included a navigation forward looking infrared (NAVFLIR) pod, a raster head-up display, night vision goggles, special cockpit lighting compatible with the night vision devices, a digital color moving map and an independent multipurpose color display.į/A-18Cs have synthetic aperture ground mapping radar with a doppler beam sharpening mode to generate ground maps. Two years later, the C/D models came with improved night attack capabilities. These Hornets carry the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the infrared imaging Maverick air-to-ground missile. Flying from USS CORAL SEA (CV 43), F/A-18s launched high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARMs) against Libyan air defense radars and missile sites, effectively silencing them during the attacks on Benghazi facilities.įollowing a successful run of more than 400 A and B models, the US Navy began taking fleet deliveries of improved F/A-18C (single seat) and F/A-18D (dual seat) models in September 1987. The F/A-18 played an important role in the 1986 strikes against Libya. The Hornet has been battle tested and has proved itself to be exactly what its designers intended: a highly reliable and versatile strike fighter. Reliability and ease of maintenance were emphasized in its design, and F/A-18s have consistently flown three times more hours without failure than other Navy tactical aircraft, while requiring half the maintenance time. It quickly became the battle group commander's mainstay because of its capability, versatility and availability. The original F/A-18A (single seat) and F/A-18B (dual seat) became operational in 1983 replacing Navy and Marine Corps F-4s and A-7s. For the most part, these occurred in the basic aircraft hardware rather than in the digital electronic systems. While much attention was focused on development problems, these were largely typical of those in any new program, with their resolution being part of the development process. Making the first flight in November 1978, the F/A-18 and its two-place derivative underwent most of their development testing at the Naval Air Test Center under the new single-site testing concept. Minimum changes were made to incorporate the second cockpit, with the two-seat airplanes retaining the ability to perform combat missions. Coupled with cathode ray tubes for cockpit displays and appropriate controls based on thorough pilot evaluations in simulators, a single airplane and subsystems configuration for both missions was evolvedĭuring development, two-place trainer versions were added, to be built in limited numbers as TF/A-18s, intermingled with the basic F/As. To meet the single-place fighter and attack mission capability, full use was made of new technology in digital computers. While the general configuration of the YF-17 was retained, the F-18 became a completely new airplane. However, the inadequacy is managed well with organic and joint tanking assets. The only F/A-18 characteristic found to be marginally adequate by battle group commanders, outside experts, and even the men who fly the Hornet, is its range when flown on certain strike mission profiles. The F/A-18 has proven to be an ideal component of the carrier based tactical aviation equation over its 15 years of operational experience. The benefit of this design feature is that the F/A-18 has been relatively easy to upgrade on a regular, affordable basis. In addition, the F/A-18 was also the Navy's first tactical jet aircraft to incorporate a digital, MUX bus architecture for the entire system's avionics suite. The power to maintain evasive action is what many pilots consider the Hornet's finest trait. A solid thrust-to-weight ratio and superior turn characteristics combined with energy sustainability, enable the F/A-18 to hold its own against any adversary. At the same time, this system provides exceptional maneuverability and allows the pilot to concentrate on operating the weapons system. The F/A-18 has a digital control-by-wire flight control system which provides excellent handling qualities, and allows pilots to learn to fly the airplane with relative ease. Intruder as these aircraft were retired during the 1990s. The F/A-18 Hornet replaced the F-4 Phantom II fighter and A-7 Corsair II light attack jet, and also replaced the A-6 Roles: air superiority, fighter escort, suppression of enemy airĭefenses, reconnaissance, forward air control, close and deepĪir support, and day and night strike missions. Multi-mission fighter/attack aircraft that can operate from eitherĪircraft carriers or land bases. The F/A-18 "Hornet" is a single- and two-seat, twin engine,
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