McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

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F/A-18 Hornet
FGAddon
A-18.jpg
Type Fighter aircraft, Attack aircraft, Interceptor aircraft, Military aircraft, Carrier-based aircraft
Configuration Retractable gear aircraft
Propulsion Twinjet (Jet aircraft, Twin-engine aircraft)
Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Northrop
Author(s) Fabrice Kauffmann
FDM JSBSim
--aircraft= f18
f183d
Status Early production
Development
 Website The website for the F/A-18 Hornet developments.
 Repository The development repository of the F/A-18 Hornet.
Download Download the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft package for the current stable release (2020.3).
License GPLv2+

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. It has been the aerial demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels since 1986.

Its primary missions are fighter escort, fleet air defense, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), interdiction, close air support and reconnaissance. Its versatility and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset, though it has been criticized for its lack of range and payload compared to its contemporaries.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a distinct, evolutionary upgrade to the F/A-18 designed to serve a complementary role with Hornets in the U.S. Navy.