F/A-18 Super Hornet
The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has been the backbone of US Navy carrier air wings since it reached initial operational capability in 2001, an enlarged development of the original Hornet ordered in 1992 after the A-12 program cancellation left the Navy without a new strike aircraft. More than 600 have been delivered to the US Navy, Australia and Kuwait, plus the EA-18G Growler electronic attack derivative.
A March 2024 contract for a final 17 aircraft turned the program into a closing one: Northrop Grumman shipped the last structural sections in January 2026 and Boeing delivers the final jets by 2027, after which Block III upgrades and service-life modification carry the fleet while the Navy defines its F/A-XX successor.
F/A-18 Super Hornet at a glance
The Super Hornet family covers single- and two-seat fighters plus the EA-18G electronic attack derivative that shares the same airframe.
Variant comparison
| Specification | F/A-18E | F/A-18F | EA-18G Growler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Single-seat multirole fighter | Two-seat multirole fighter | Electronic attack aircraft |
| Primary operator | US Navy | US Navy, Australia | US Navy, Australia |
| Distinguishing feature | Backbone of carrier air wings | Second crew station for complex strike missions | Jamming pods and anti-radiation weapons |
Block III upgrades with conformal tanks deleted but new displays, network links and longer structural life are refreshing the fleet as production winds down; Boeing delivers the final new-build jets by 2027 and then shifts entirely to sustainment and modernization.
Full specifications
Latest F/A-18 Super Hornet coverage from AeroTime
Operators
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The last new-build aircraft, from a final 17-jet US Navy order, are delivered by 2027; the fleet then continues through Block III upgrades and service-life modification.
The Super Hornet is about 25% larger, with more range, payload and more powerful GE F414 engines, sharing little more than a family resemblance with the legacy F/A-18.
Increasingly the carrier-based F-35C in the near term, with the US Navy's F/A-XX next-generation fighter intended as the long-term successor.