McDonnell Douglas / Boeing

F/A-18C

Hornet

MACH 1.8
Max Speed
1978–Now
In Service
1,480+
Units Built
Scroll for Briefing
SEC 01

Mission Overview

The F/A-18C Hornet is a twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft. The "F/A" designation reflects its dual fighter and attack capability — a first for a U.S. tactical jet. Developed by McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) from the YF-17 lightweight fighter prototype, the Hornet replaced both the F-4 Phantom II in the fighter role and the A-7 Corsair II in the attack role.

The "C" model (single-seat) and its two-seat sibling the D model introduced in 1987 brought significant avionics upgrades: the AN/APG-73 radar, night-attack capability with FLIR/NVG compatibility, and expanded smart weapons integration. These "Night Attack" and later "Lot 20+" variants carried the Hornet through Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, and beyond.

Note: The F/A-18C is the "Hornet," not to be confused with the larger F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" — a substantially different, larger airframe.
Role
Multirole Fighter
Crew
1 (C) / 2 (D)
First Flight
Nov 1978
Engines
2× GE F404
Wing Span
40 ft 5 in
Length
56 ft
Empty Weight
23,050 lb
Max Takeoff
51,900 lb
SEC 02

Performance Data

Max Speed (High Altitude) Mach 1.8 · 1,190 mph
At altitude, clean configuration
Service Ceiling 50,000 ft
Rate of Climb 45,000 ft/min
Max G Load +7.5g / −3g
Structural limit; sustained 5.1g at Mach 0.8
Approach Speed (Carrier) ~134 kts
Typical recovery weight, on-speed AoA
Thrust per Engine (Mil) 10,950 lbf
Thrust per Engine (A/B) 16,000 lbf
F404-GE-402 Enhanced Performance Engine
Combined T/W Ratio (Clean) ~0.96:1
At typical combat weight
Engine Bypass Ratio 0.34:1
Low-bypass turbofan optimized for combat
Combat Radius (Fighter) 400 nmi
Air-to-air loadout, hi-lo-lo-hi profile
Combat Radius (Attack) 290 nmi
Strike loadout with 4× Mk 84 bombs
Ferry Range 2,070 nmi
With 3× external tanks
Hardpoints / Max Payload 9 Stations · 13,700 lb
Internal Fuel 10,860 lb
One of the Hornet's noted weaknesses — limited internal fuel capacity
SEC 03

Service History

1974
YF-17 Cobra — The Origin
DETAILS
Northrop's YF-17 lost the USAF Lightweight Fighter competition to the YF-16, but the Navy selected a derivative — the larger, twin-engine design better suited carrier operations. McDonnell Douglas partnered with Northrop to scale it up into what became the F/A-18.
1978
First Flight
DETAILS
The first F/A-18A flew on November 18, 1978. It demonstrated excellent handling qualities and the ability to switch between air-to-air and air-to-ground modes with a single button press — a paradigm shift in tactical aviation.
1983
IOC with VFA-314 & VFA-323
DETAILS
The first operational Hornet squadrons deployed aboard USS Constellation. The Navy was initially divided — Tomcat crews were skeptical of the smaller, shorter-ranged Hornet, but maintainers loved its reliability and lower cost per flight hour.
1986
Baptism of Fire — Libya
DETAILS
Hornets flew SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions during Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libyan targets, delivering HARM missiles against SA-5 radar sites. This marked the Hornet's first combat action.
1987
F/A-18C Introduced
DETAILS
The C model brought upgraded avionics, AIM-120 AMRAAM capability, improved mission computers, and provisions for the night-attack FLIR pod. Later Lot 20+ aircraft added the AN/APG-73 radar and further expanded precision weapons compatibility.
1991
Desert Storm — Dual Role Proven
DETAILS
F/A-18Cs scored two MiG-21 kills with AIM-9 Sidewinders on Day 1, then continued to their ground-attack targets and dropped bombs — perfectly demonstrating the swing-role concept. Hornets flew 4,551 sorties in the war with a mission-capable rate above 90%.
1999
Operation Allied Force — Kosovo
DETAILS
Hornets played a major role in the NATO air campaign over the former Yugoslavia, employing precision-guided munitions including JDAMs in their first operational use from a Navy aircraft.
2001–
Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom
DETAILS
The Hornet became the backbone of carrier air wing strike operations over Afghanistan and Iraq. F/A-18Cs regularly conducted 6–8 hour missions with aerial refueling, showcasing the type's versatility even as the newer Super Hornet began replacing it.
2019
USN Retirement Begins
DETAILS
The U.S. Navy began retiring its last F/A-18C squadrons as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II took over. VFA-34 "Blue Blasters" conducted the final operational C-model cruise. Several allied nations continue to operate the type.
SEC 04

Weapons Systems

GUN
M61A1 Vulcan
Six-barrel 20mm rotary cannon mounted in the nose. 578 rounds. Effective to ~2,000 ft in dogfight; devastating against ground soft targets in strafing runs.
6,000
RPM
20mm
Caliber
578
Rounds
AIR-TO-AIR
AIM-120 AMRAAM
Active radar-homing BVR missile. Fire-and-forget capability. The C model's ability to employ AMRAAM was a major upgrade over the A/B variants.
~40 nmi
Range
Mach 4
Speed
ARH
Guidance
AIR-TO-AIR
AIM-9 Sidewinder
Infrared-guided short-range dogfight missile. The M variant provides all-aspect engagement capability with improved resistance to countermeasures.
~10 nmi
Range
Mach 2.5
Speed
IR
Guidance
AIR-TO-GROUND
AGM-65 Maverick
Precision-guided air-to-surface missile with TV, IR, or laser guidance. Highly effective against armor, bunkers, and hardened targets.
~14 nmi
Range
300 lb
Warhead
Multi
Guidance
PRECISION
JDAM (GBU-31/32)
GPS/INS-guided bomb kit converting Mk 83/84 dumb bombs into all-weather precision munitions. Accuracy within 10 meters CEP. Changed carrier strike warfare.
15 nmi
Range
~10m
CEP
GPS
Guidance
ANTI-RADAR
AGM-88 HARM
High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile for SEAD missions. Homes on enemy radar emissions. Can be employed in self-protect, target of opportunity, or pre-briefed modes.
~80 nmi
Range
Mach 2+
Speed
ARM
Guidance
PRECISION
GBU-12 Paveway II
Laser-guided 500 lb bomb. Workhorse precision weapon for CAS and strike. Requires laser designation from the aircraft, a wingman, or ground FAC/JTAC.
500 lb
Weight
~5m
CEP
Laser
Guidance
CLUSTER
CBU-99 Rockeye
Anti-armor cluster bomb dispensing 247 Mk 118 armor-piercing bomblets. Used extensively in Desert Storm against Iraqi armor and mechanized units in the open.
500 lb
Weight
247
Submun.
Area
Effect
SEC 05

Avionics Suite

RDR
AN/APG-73 Radar
Multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar. Air-to-air modes include range-while-search, track-while-scan (10 targets), and single-target track. Air-to-ground modes include real beam map, Doppler beam sharpening, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and ground moving target indication.
NAV
INS/GPS Navigation
Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system with embedded GPS. Provides precision navigation, weapon delivery solutions, and automatic carrier landing system (ACLS) integration for all-weather recovery.
EW
AN/ALR-67(V)3 RWR
Radar warning receiver providing 360° threat detection and identification. Classifies emitters by type (search, track, missile guidance) and cues countermeasures. Integrates with AN/ALE-47 chaff/flare dispenser and AN/ALQ-165 ASPJ jammer.
NVG
Night Attack FLIR
AN/AAS-38 Nite Hawk targeting FLIR pod plus NVG-compatible cockpit. The FLIR provides infrared imagery projected onto the HUD, enabling low-altitude night operations and laser designation for guided weapons.
HUD
Kaiser AN/AVQ-28 HUD
Wide-field-of-view raster HUD displaying flight data, weapons delivery symbology, FLIR video, and air-to-air radar information. Supports CCIP, CCRP, and auto bombing modes.
DDI
HOTAS & Glass Cockpit
Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) concept with three multifunction displays (DDIs) and a central MPCD. The Hornet pioneered the digital glass cockpit in fighter aviation — no analog flight instruments on the C model panel.
SEC 06

Comparative Analysis

Parameter F/A-18C Hornet F/A-18E Super Hornet F-16C Viper F-14D Tomcat
Max Speed Mach 1.8 Mach 1.8 Mach 2.0 Mach 2.34
Combat Radius 400 nmi 449 nmi 340 nmi 500 nmi
Max G 7.5g 7.5g 9g 6.5g
Engines 2× F404 2× F414 1× F110 2× F110
Empty Weight 23,050 lb 32,081 lb 19,700 lb 43,735 lb
Hardpoints 9 11 9 10
Carrier Capable Yes Yes No Yes
Unit Cost ~$29M ~$67M ~$19M ~$38M
Crew 1 1–2 1 2
SEC 07

Global Operators

United States Navy
U.S. Marine Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
Canadian Forces
Spanish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
Swiss Air Force
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Kuwait Air Force
Blue Angels (USN)
The Hornet's combination of relatively low cost, carrier capability, reliability, and true multirole performance made it an attractive export fighter. Several nations — notably Australia, Canada, and Finland — operated the type as their primary fighter for decades. Australia retired its Hornets in 2021 in favor of the F-35A, while Canada is transitioning to the F-35A as well. Finland replaced its Hornets with the F-35A starting in 2025. Switzerland selected the F-35A as its Hornet replacement in 2021.