The first naval fighter was named YF-17. The fighter was selected for the US and was adopted as F/A-18 Hornet. The F-16 was its competitor, which was eventually adopted by the Air Force. Hornet made their first flight on 18 November 1978. The original production included F/A-18A single-seat aircraft (371 units), and the first deliveries started in 1983.
Armament
F/A-18 offered more and better weapon options than its predecessors. It was also a fighter with the ability to dogfight pretty decently. Its advanced multi-purpose radar APG-65 was a standard radar for future fighters.
For the air superiority role, F/A-18 used the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles with long and medium-range capabilities and the improved AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles with a smaller range. For bombing missions of land targets, it used the AGM-62 Walley, the AGM-65 Maverick, and the AGM-83E SLAM missiles. For surface targets, it used the AGM-84 Harpoon missiles. Other available options were the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. A standard, 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon is featured in the aircraft.
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F/A-18 made its first operation in the El Dorado Canyon against Libya in April 1986. It also proved itself in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Replacement
F/A-18 was replaced by the F/A-18C that was the basic production model till 1999, while 347 were ordered by the US. The first F/A-18 flew on 3 September 1986. The version could launch the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the IRR version of the AGM-65 Maverick missile. It also featured improved avionics and the NACES ejection seats.
Right after the delivery of 137 F/A-18Cs, the production switched to a night strike version with special equipment like the GEC Cat's EYE for the pilots, the AAS-38 external targeting pods, and color screens. The first-night strike Hornet was delivered on 1 November 1989.
The versatility of the Hornet was a key factor for its successful export sales. Canada first ordered the aircraft outside the US and received 98 single-seat CF-188A aircraft. Australia followed with 57 AF-18A, Spain with 60 EF-18A, and 24 F/A-18A from the US Navy. Other European countries were Sweden and Norway with 25 and 57 aircraft respectively.
