Can the F/A-18 Super Hornet survive in the stealth world?

The American-made F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor fighter jets are considered by most to be the pinnacle of innovation in aviation. These fifth-generation powerhouses outperform their competitors in almost every area. However, America’s once-claimed air superiority is now being challenged by China and Russia.

Both US opponents have their own fifth-generation airframes: the Chengdu J-20 and the Su-57, respectively. Should a full-scale war emerge in the Pacific, the Raptor and Lightning II would certainly play a leading role in any American air strategy. And while they may not be stealth aircraft, such a conflict would also require the U.S. Navy’s older F/A-18 Super Hornet platform to be used.

This tried and tested fighter has served the Navy for nearly four decades and has evolved over time to maintain an edge over competing platforms.

The first Block I jet, the Hornet, was designed during the Cold War. Manufacturers McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman designed the F/A-18 platform with improved avionics, cockpit displays and overall versatility. Building on the platform’s proven technology, Boeing launched the Super Hornet variant of the F/A-18 in the early 2000s. Today, every fighter squadron in the Navy has transitioned to the Super Hornet.

Introducing the F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III

The latest Super Hornet variant to enter service is Block III. This incredible upgrade makes the already powerful platform even deadlier. According to Boeing, the latest Super Hornet model exceeds the capabilities of fourth-generation fighter aircraft because its “new auxiliary processor results in a fighter aircraft that does more work and in much less time, improving a pilot’s situational awareness.” The new Block III Cockpit is equipped with the Advanced Cockpit System, which features a sophisticated touchscreen that gives the pilot a clearer view of the battlefield.

Block IIIs can also carry more fuel than previous variants and can log up to 10,000 flight hours during their service life.

Perhaps most significant is the smaller radar cross section of Block III. This feature helps minimize the fighter’s detectability and makes it more difficult for enemy aircraft to locate and intercept. While the new Super Hornets may not technically be stealth aircraft like the F-22 or F-35, they would still be useful weapons if a full-scale war broke out.

Regulatory power

When it comes to armament, the Super Hornet can take a beating. The F/A-18E/F can carry nearly 17,800 pounds of weapons, including AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and Laser JDAM. conventional and laser-guided bombs and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

In recent years, the Navy has incorporated new technologies and weapons into the Super Hornet to make it more effective in fifth-generation airspace.

This summer, the Block IIIs were loaded with the new long-range AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship missiles. “We have continued to invest in the design and development of LRASM ground defense capabilities to ensure warfighters have the 21st century security solutions they need to complete their missions and come home safely,” said the director of the program.

While the Super Hornet may not have the same stealth characteristics as the F-35 and F-22, the platform is still significant and would play a role in a possible future conflict over the Indo-Pacific.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya CarlinNational security writer at The National Interest, is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has appeared in numerous publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has published over 1,000 articles on various defense topics in recent years.

Image source: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock

From the safe

F-35I Adir: Israel has a special stealth fighter. Even America doesn’t fly

USS Missouri: The Best Battleship of All Time