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F/A-18E/F (Page 2)

Latest in F/A-18E/F

Lockheed Martin has received a new full-rate production contract, valued at $233 million, for Block II IRST21 infrared search and track sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters.
F/A-18E/F

Troubled Infrared Pod For Navy Super Hornets Gets New Vote Of Confidence

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 20, 2025

More details have emerged about the problems the U.S. Navy is facing with its ill-starred podded Infrared Search And Track System, or IRST, an important capability planned for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The latest issues to be highlighted come after TWZ previously reported on delays caused by production quality issues with the system and a Pentagon assessment of “significant reliability problems during operational testing,” which emerged earlier this year.
F/A-18E/F

New Details On F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Troubled IRST Pod

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

The U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation combat jet program looks to have hit another setback, with the Pentagon reportedly prioritizing the Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter, amid concerns about how to run the two efforts simultaneously. Already, the F/A-XX was in limbo, with a U.S. official telling TWZ last month that the future of the program was being reviewed. This came after reports that a contract award for the Navy’s new combat jet could be delayed by as much as three years. Navy officials, meanwhile, continue to stress the importance of the F/A-XX to their future plans.
F/A-18E/F

Pentagon Wants To Shift Funds From Navy F/A-XX To USAF F-47: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 5, 2025

Hornet crashed aboard the USS Harry S Truman
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornet Crashes Landing On USS Truman, Its Second F/A-18 Loss In A Week

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 7, 2025

The future of the Navy NGAD crewed aircraft program remains in limbo.
F/A-18E/F

Navy F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Selection This Week: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 25, 2025

We may have just gotten our first evidence of the GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bomb, also known as the Small Diameter Bomber II (SDB II), being used in combat. The first operational use of the StormBreaker by the service would be a big deal, with this weapon bringing some significant advances over its predecessor, the GBU-39/B SDB I, especially the ability to hit moving targets.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18 Super Hornets Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 24, 2025

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Mighty Strikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility while conducing a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Oct. 2, 2020. VFA-94 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the flagship of Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18’s Infrared Search And Track System Has “Significant Reliability Problems”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 3, 2025

U.S. Navy officials have laid out several priorities they say are key to ensuring the service's carrier air wings will be able to succeed in future conflicts, especially a high-end fight in the Pacific.
F/A-18E/F

Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

The U.S. Navy is now officially using "Murder Hornet" to refer to F/A-18E/F fighters armed with five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinder.
F/A-18E/F

Murder Hornet Nickname For F/A-18s Equipped With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles Now Official

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 6, 2025

F/A-18F Was Shot Down By Friendly Fire As Jets Were About To Land On The Carrier
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18F Was Shot Down By Friendly Fire As Jets Were About To Land On The Carrier

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 24, 2024

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet was conducting a refueling mission over the Red Sea when it was downed in a friendly fire incident this past weekend.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18F Shot Down By Friendly Cruiser Was In The Middle Of A Refueling Mission

By Joseph Trevithick, Geoff Ziezulewicz, Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 23, 2024

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. Gray Flag is an annual large-force test event that brings the joint force together to test and evaluate multi-domain systems in a maritime environment, ensuring our nation’s warfighters are equipped with effective, interoperable systems that will help them deter aggression, protect our nation’s prosperity and security, and return home safely to their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)
F/A-18E/F

Navy Posts Its First AIM-174 Missile-Armed F/A-18F Super Hornet ‘Glamour Shots’

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 6, 2024

The U.S. Navy is asking for new ideas about how to increase the unrefueled range of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
F/A-18E/F

New Ways To Stretch F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Range Sought By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 23, 2024

Popping China's Anti-access bubble with the AIM-174
F/A-18E/F

18:41

How The Navy’s New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Missile Could Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 3, 2024

Collins Aerospace has put forward a vision for what a high-end air combat engagement between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces, with the American side employing crewed fighters and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingmen, could look like in the future.
F/A-18E/F

What American Fighters And Their Drone Wingmen Fighting Chinese Jets Might Look Like

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 20, 2024

A series of photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet with a remarkable and hitherto unseen air-to-air load-out, including four of the very long-range AIM-174B air-to-air missiles.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 11, 2024

US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets brandishing full loads of nine air-to-air missiles have touched down at a base in Jordan ahead of expected Iranian attacks against Israel.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18E Super Hornets Fully Loaded With Air-To-Air Missiles Arrive In Jordan

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 9, 2024

A look at an AIM-174 air-launched version of the SM-6 missile with previously unseen markings under the wing of a Super Hornet aboard the USS Carl Vinson has emerged.
F/A-18E/F

AIM-174 Missile Seen On Super Hornet About To Launch From A Carrier For First Time

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 23, 2024

U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet blasted an Iranian ship running the blockade.(
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18F Super Hornet Pilot Is First U.S. Female Aviator To Shoot Down An Enemy Aerial Threat

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 17, 2024

The air-launched version of the hugely versatile SM-6 missile, also known as the RIM-174, has appeared on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters at the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. We now also know the missiles are designated AIM-74B, indicating an air-to-air missile, although, as we have discussed in the past, the weapon also has the potential to strike high-priority ground targets, such as air defense sites, and warships, acting as a quasi-ballistic missile.
F/A-18E/F

AIM-174 Super Hornet-Launched Variant Of SM-6 Missile Breaks Cover In Hawaii (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 3, 2024

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets will be used to launch prototypes of the US Air Force's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.
F/A-18E/F

Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets To Test Launch U.S. Air Force’s Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 18, 2024

Photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrying what appears to be an air-launched version of the RIM-174 SM-6 missile, a weapon that can counter aerial threats at long ranges, as well as ground and surface targets.
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornet Armed With SM-6 Missile Spotted Over California

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 7, 2024

161013-N-OI810-093 WATERS SURROUNDING THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 13, 2016) Petty Officer 1st Class (AW/SW) John Diwa, from Dededo, Guam, installs inboard and outboard bearings on a main tire mount of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, in the hangar bay of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during Exercise Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters near the Korean Peninsula, consisting of routine carrier strike group (CSG) operations in support of maritime counter-special operating forces and integrated maritime operations. USS Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burke/Released)
F/A-18E/F

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

By Eric Tegler

Posted on May 7, 2024

New AIM-9X configuration for the super hornet and growler.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18 Super Hornets Now Flying With Four AIM-9Xs From USS Eisenhower To Counter Drones

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 11, 2024

The Navy and Lockheed Martin recently conducted a "historic" test in which four AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles were in flight simultaneously.
F/A-18E/F

Four Stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles Flew Together In “Historic” Test

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 4, 2024

Drone kill marks on F/A-18E Super Hornet from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
F/A-18E/F

Navy Super Hornets Are Now Wearing Houthi Drone Kill Marks

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 19, 2024

Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight David Eisenhower struck Houthi missile installations today.
F/A-18E/F

Red Sea Ship Attacks Continue After Super Hornets Strike Missiles

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 19, 2024

Super Hornets from the aircraft carrier Dwight David Eisenhower struck Houthi missile installations today.
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornets Score Aerial Kills Over Red Sea

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 26, 2023

Navy Super Hornet That Blew Off Carrier’s Deck Back In U.S. Hands
F/A-18E/F

Navy Super Hornet That Blew Off Carrier’s Deck Back In U.S. Hands

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 8, 2022

Inside The Navy’s Top Aggressor Squadron That Is About To Trade Its Hornets For Super Hornets
F/A-18E/F

Inside The Navy’s Top Aggressor Squadron That Is About To Trade Its Hornets For Super Hornets

By Jamie Hunter

Updated on Nov 1, 2021

These Are The Proposed Paint Schemes For The Navy’s New Adversary Super Hornets
F/A-18E/F

These Are The Proposed Paint Schemes For The Navy’s New Adversary Super Hornets

By Jamie Hunter

Updated on Nov 1, 2021

Boeing Shows Super Hornets Bristling With 14 Missiles In Formal Sales Pitch To Canada
F/A-18E/F

Boeing Shows Super Hornets Bristling With 14 Missiles In Formal Sales Pitch To Canada

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 31, 2020

This Syria-Bound Super Hornet Is Carrying A Uniquely Massive Bomb Load
F/A-18E/F

This Syria-Bound Super Hornet Is Carrying A Uniquely Massive Bomb Load

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 5, 2020

Super Hornet Will Compete In Canada’s Fighter Contest As US Navy Funds Conformal Fuel Tanks
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornet Will Compete In Canada’s Fighter Contest As US Navy Funds Conformal Fuel Tanks

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 30, 2019

Boeing Might Include Stealthy Features on Overhauled US Navy Super Hornets
F/A-18E/F

Boeing Might Include Stealthy Features on Overhauled US Navy Super Hornets

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 30, 2019

USAF and USN Both Come To Terms With Long 4th Generation Fighter Futures
F/A-18E/F

USAF and USN Both Come To Terms With Long 4th Generation Fighter Futures

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 29, 2019

Here Is Boeing’s Master Plan For The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s Future
F/A-18E/F

Here Is Boeing’s Master Plan For The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s Future

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on May 24, 2018

F/A-18E Pilot Had Hypoxia Symptoms After Diversion To Incirlik Air Base During Syria Mission
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18E Pilot Had Hypoxia Symptoms After Diversion To Incirlik Air Base During Syria Mission

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 8, 2018

This F/A-18F Pilot Rattling Off His Launch Checklist Will Make You Want To Join The Navy
F/A-18E/F

This F/A-18F Pilot Rattling Off His Launch Checklist Will Make You Want To Join The Navy

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 21, 2018

Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Belonging To VFA-213 ‘Black Lions’ Crashed Off Key West (UPDATED)
F/A-18E/F

Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet Belonging To VFA-213 ‘Black Lions’ Crashed Off Key West (UPDATED)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 15, 2018

VFA-31 Releases Footage Of Syrian Su-22 Being Shot Down In This Awesome Cruise Video
F/A-18E/F

VFA-31 Releases Footage Of Syrian Su-22 Being Shot Down In This Awesome Cruise Video

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 22, 2017

Here’s The Definitive Account Of The Syrian Su-22 Shoot Down From The Pilots Themselves
F/A-18E/F

Here’s The Definitive Account Of The Syrian Su-22 Shoot Down From The Pilots Themselves

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 15, 2017

Boeing Says Super Hornet Fully Compatible With Indian Navy Ski-Jump Carriers
F/A-18E/F

Boeing Says Super Hornet Fully Compatible With Indian Navy Ski-Jump Carriers

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 28, 2017

USN F/A-18E Super Hornet Shoots Down Syrian Su-22 Fitter Attack Jet
F/A-18E/F

USN F/A-18E Super Hornet Shoots Down Syrian Su-22 Fitter Attack Jet

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 18, 2017

Canada To Purchase 18 Super Hornets While Future Fighter Competition Looms
F/A-18E/F

Canada To Purchase 18 Super Hornets While Future Fighter Competition Looms

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 23, 2016