The US Navy received the first deeply upgraded Super Hornet. They will serve on aircraft carriers side by side with new generation fighters.
A significant event took place for the US Navy: the first two Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters were handed over to them. The Navy will use them to complete the test program and evaluate upgrades. The sailors will work out various new methods and procedures necessary for the full operation of Block III.
In total, Boeing Corporation will build 78 F/A-18 aircraft in the Block III configuration for the Navy. They will perform approximately the same tasks that the earlier F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are currently performing.
Delivery of Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet / ©Boeing
The Block III version should not be regarded as an alternative to the fifth-generation F-35C fighter: the Navy does not abandon these machines, still pinning great hopes on them.
F-35C
Image Source: LM
New technologies allow the Block III to get as close as possible to the fifth generation. The full update package includes many improvements over the "regular" Super Hornet. The aircraft, in particular, received a new multifunctional display, giving pilots new opportunities.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet in the Block III configuration is designed for longer operation — ten thousand flight hours instead of six thousand for its predecessors. The aircraft has also become more resilient and has received advanced technologies to reduce visibility: at the same time, the Block III cannot be compared in terms of stealth with fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-35C mentioned above.
Initially, the Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet wanted to be equipped with conformal fuel tanks that increase the range, but then this idea was abandoned due to problems identified during testing.
Super Hornet with conformal fuel tanks
Image source: bestfighter4canada
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet first took to the skies on November 18, 1978. The deeply upgraded F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter made its first flight on November 29, 1995. As of 2018, approximately 600 Super Hornet have been built.
Recall that this year the US Air Force received the first F-15EX fighter. Among other things, it is distinguished by a large combat load.
The F-15EX is said to be able to carry up to 22 air—to-air guided missiles or hypersonic weapons up to 6.7 meters long and weighing up to 3175 kilograms. If we talk about new small bombs of the Small Diameter Bomb type, then their fighter is capable of carrying up to 28 pieces, which is close to the performance of the strike F-15E Strike Eagle.
