: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

The history of the F/A-18 Hornet program is colorful to say the least. After recovering from the financial and schedule impacts from the mandated F-111B program and gaining the most capable fleet defense fighters in history with the resulting F-14 Tomcat, the Navy was still faced with replacing the F-4s on those carriers that were not capable of operating the F-14 as well as replace the fleet of A-7E Corsair II strike aircraft.

The Air Force was in full swing with its lightweight fighter program that pitted the General Dynamics YF-16 against the Northrop YF-17. The Navy was considering a purchase of the same type that won the Air Force':s competition, but when the YF-16 was declared the winner, the Navy had second thoughts. The YF-16 had some inherent problems at the time, not the least of which was only one engine. The Navy decided to base their next fighter on the YF-17 Cobra.

During the acquisition process for this new aircraft, somehow McDonnell Douglas was selected to convert the YF-17 into a carrier-capable lightweight fighter while Northrop became a subcontractor to support their design. The conversion process turned out to be more difficult as time progressed as the Navy added requirements to the aircraft and these requirements translated into additional weight and cost. The resulting airframe was quite different from the original YF-17 and nearly 7,000 pounds heavier at empty weight.

The F/A-18C was an incremental improvement over the F/A-18A with upgraded engines, radar, weapons, the NACES ejection seat, and other avionics. While the F/A-18B was a two-seat trainer variant of the Hornet, the F/A-18D was enhanced to fulfill the night attack mission and replace the A-6 Intruder after that type':s original replacement, the A-12 Avenger II failed to enter production.

Vier uitvoeringen mogelijk: