The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the Navy's highest priority aviation modernization program. It is replacing the Navy F/A-18C/D Hornet combat aircraft. The decision to undertake the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet program was made during a period of great turbulence in Navy aviation modernization. During this time frame the Navy struggled to identity and implement the best way to modernize its aging fleet of F-14 fighters and A-6E attack aircraft. The A-12 program (a stealthy replacement to the A-6E) was terminated in January 1991. The AFX program, another proposed replacement for the A-6E, began in 1991, but was also terminated. The principal alternative to the F/A-18E/F was a modest upgrade of the F-14--a large, two-seat fighter designed in the 1960s, with potential air-to-surface attack capabilities. Some observers describe the F/A- 18E/F as an upgraded and larger version ofthe F/A-18C/D, with increased range and payload capacity and more space and weight for future improvements. Others assert that the differences between the baseline Hornet aircraft and the E/F model are so great that they would describe the Super Hornet as an entirely new aircraft. The Department of Defense is currently facing a shortage of radar and communicationsjamming capability. The Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B Prowlers escort and protect Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force aircraft operating in hostile airspace. The Prowlers, however, are few and rapidly aging. All the Services are evaluating preferred approaches to ameliorating this shortfall. The Navy's approach is to produce a new electronic attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F, called the F/A-l8G. The Navy's FY2008 budget proposes to increase the overall purchase of F/A-18E/F aircraft by 22, for a total of 494. it also proposes reducing the overall purchase of FA-18G aircraft by 10, for a total of 80.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler Aircraft: Background and Issues for Congress


    Contributors:
    C. Bolkcom (author)

    Publication date :

    2007


    Size :

    17 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English