Unlocking the Secrets of the Super Hornet: Why the F-18 Is Way Stealthier Than You Thought

[@PilotPhotog]

►Play War Thunder now with my link, and get a massive, free bonus pack including vehicles, boosters, and more: playwt.link/pilotphotog

[@임석근-t5j]

몸체가 커진다. 무장이 제한된다. 날개가 작아진다.The body of the aircraft grows. Aircraft armament is limited. The wing of the aircraft becomes smaller

[@임석근-t5j]

소총이 총신이 작아진다. 몸통이 커진다. 권총이 장전된 탄알이 줄어든다. The rifle has a smaller barrel. torso grows The amount of bullets the pistol is loaded with is reduced.

[@임석근-t5j]

예((((examples))))f-35b

[@임석근-t5j]

착륙....이륙....빅 머니...

[@jamesschroeder1558]

Need a console link

[@h8GW]

While I was never an F/A-18 fan, due to being a Tomcat person, I have to admit the Hornet has evolved into a very impressive 4th-gen airframe.

[@xxGravyBabyxx]

I won't be surprised once the U.S military sells the F-18 to other countries, if those foreign pilots start to beat 5th gen fighters during friendly war games.

[@jtrx753]

The F/A-18 E/F is designated 5th gen by boing and the United States Navy

[@notspookycanadian2893]

@@jtrx753 you are wrong.

[@KiteSurfPuntaCanaSchool]

But still is no Tomcat, carry less fuel, same burn rate, slower, less reach, smaller radar. The Tomcat would have been a Monster!!!! The worst decision ever done by the DOD!!!!

[@boostjunkie2320]

It has certainly earned it's place in the Navy....The F14 will always be remembered....

[@morganlowder4532]

So I’m guessing then when they say the su 57 is as stealthy as a clean f/a 18 that it’s not completely unstealthy

[@thecommentator3732]

wrong

[@StrikeNoir105E]

Which is damning with faint praise, considering that the SU-57 was built from the ground up and paraded as a stealth aircraft, whereas the F/A-18E/F are just modified versions of a formerly non-stealthy aircraft. When your supposed "stealth" aircraft has the same RCS as a low-observable craft from the previous generation you know something's gone horribly wrong with the design.

[@tray2breezy]

@@thecommentator3732 the su-57 is stealth just not as much as it should be

[@keeganhenderson24]

It’s considered “low observational” so yes it does have stealth tech. But it’s not considered “stealth” because it’s not stealthy enough. There are different legitimate classifications of stealth

[@mefobills279]

Russia uses A2AD which is defense, not offense. Their war theater is close in and controlled with ISR. Intelligence Surveillance and Recon. A 57 is super maneuverable and is designed to close on enemy via data link in their ISR network. ISR is working well with drones and artillery in Ukraine. Basically Atlantacism and expeditionary offensive war is over. The pentagram hasn't gotten the memo.

[@direwolf7491]

Even the diamond shaped intakes are pretty noticeable stealth feature.

[@michealnyers184]

And the slanted vertical stabilizers

[@direwolf7491]

@@michealnyers184 Yes that too.

[@yurackjung9321]

@@michealnyers184 the vert stabs weren't built for stealth. having smaller cross section is just a cherry on top but it was actually mainly for effective low speed rudder use as the long nose and the leading edges would've impacted the rudders on high aoa maneuvers if they were straight like the f15 or a single big tail like the viper

[@michealnyers184]

@@yurackjung9321 yea ik, I just wanted to point out that it helps for stealth

[@12345fowler]

Everything square is bad for stealth. Simple geometry.

[@dennisweifenbach2647]

I had also read, somewhere, that the use of angled verticle stabilizers, helped with reduced radar tracking

[@Cobra-King3]

It is a side effect rather than an intentional design choice

[@cityskylines11]

I was always under the impression that the canted stabilizers is were incorporated for a lower RCS and not just a side effect. But I could be mistaken. Do you have any source for where you got that info?

[@Cobra-King3]

@@cityskylines11 That, and the following are equivalent to a "Source: Trust me bro" since I only remember seeing this info back during the time the History Channel made ACTUAL History, so take it with salt The design decision came to make a highly maneuverable aircraft with very good stability, the YF-17 traces some of its physical design back to Northrop's older F-5 Tiger II, the design ended up utilizing, originally, Twin Vertical stabilizers canted at 45°, however after wind tunnel testing, it was reduced to 20° for stability purposes. That was one of the reasons for the USN to choose the YF-17 as their lightweight fighter, rather than the YF-16(F-16), along with the lower wing sweep, already sturdier Landing Gear, Twin engines, Lower vertical space, etc. It was later confirmed that Canted Stabilizers reduce RCS with the formula from a Soviet Scientist(I may have gotten his Occupation wrong, correct me if so) and the future implementation on the F-117 only supported that notion Since then, all Fighters built with Stealth had Canted Stabilizers, now coated in and made with RAM materiel

[@Legion-xq8eo]

Yup that’s one of the main upgrades on the proposed Boeing F-15SE silent eagle!! It was a modified strike eagle with a conformal fuel tanks & a conformal weapons bay with an extra four missles in addition to its normal hard points and angled vertical stabilizers like the f/a-18!! It was made from the first strike eagle off the line so Boeing wasn’t wasting any time upgrading its line and unveiled in March 2009 as a low cost alternative to countries who couldn’t afford the F-35 lightning but going up against the f-35 is exactly what did it in because instead of adopting an upgraded 4.5++ gen fighter countries just wanted to go for the gen 5 instead no matter the cost!!

[@brandondugger2754]

WELCOME BACK SUPER HORNET !! I knew that thing couldn't be replaced.

[@timbaskett6299]

I wonder if Boeing has integrated any of these improvements into the F-15EX. Another design I could see is an F-16 "Block 90" with seam blending and a RCS reducing intake design, a "Shadow Viper" if you will.

[@jadenantal1652]

Would be cool if they did a run of the f16xl modernized, cause that thing was hell of an improvement over f16a. Now with computers I'm sure there is even more to take advantage of

[@thenovicegamer007]

Hold up. If they were to make this new F16, why would it be called the Block 90 instead of the Block 80?

[@BlyGuy]

The F16 is soon gonna have a fleet of AI flown Vipers. No need to worry about stealth.

[@andymontemayor175]

I think the f-18 is my favorite plane, beautiful lines, jack of all trades master of none.

[@pauljs75]

Really old Hornets had rounded intakes and a slightly different shape to the LERX (as well as some other stuff which isn't as obvious), so whatever was done to reduce radar signature came later in the production run. I think it was about a variant or two before the supers where they changed some things that were visually noticeable. And supers made the design bigger.

[@greenmagic8ball198]

It just keeps getting better and better...

[@brentmchenry9273]

a ton of technologies that continue to update our fleets and keeping us on the bleeding edge... you mentioned a few that other channels gloss over! great job

[@Jump-n-smash]

Don’t believe everything you see

[@wingless747]

@@Jump-n-smash or everything you hear from youtube commenters 🙂

[@scottnj2503]

This analysis and presentation approaches a level I seldom see in pubs such as AW&ST. The synthesis of multiple open source information into layman's terms is double tough. Bravo Zulu! Tog.

[@capn82]

I used to hate the Hornet. More I realize the USN has quietly built what may be the ultimate 4/4.5 green aircraft. People forget that the Growler also uses the same radar. Which means the block three Hornet has an electronic attack capability. On top of all this, it’s still the cheapest US fighter to buy or operate. Can operate from the shortest, least improved airfields…… Maybe the SU-57 is stealthier. But I’d take a block three Hornet, with Growler support, E3-d support every day of the week.

[@mamarussellthepie3995]

Omg the Stealth pods from the 90's or 2000's that u see in videogames are so freaking cool xD

[@petertimowreef9085]

Why do drop-tanks have a round cross-section instead of square one? My guess is that a round tank is stronger and so can carry more fuel for the same weight, but you would think that the penalty of a giant round tank shape to your Radar Cross Section is so large that at least some models of drop-tanks would be square or box-like.

[@donmustube7505]

The F-15 and F-18 have a high level of redundancy or survivability. This can be attributed to the use of the following software that was used to design the hydraulic systems where only Titanium tubes were used.: “AIRCRAFT HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS DYNAMIC ANALYSIS” User Manual 1977 otherwise known as HYTRAN for hydraulic system transients. The original HYTRAN software was developed by MCAIR (McDonnell Douglas) in the early 1970’s and used to analyze hydraulic system transients. There was also pump frequency and steady state software included. These software programs were awarded to MACAIR by AIR FORCE AERO PROPULSION LABORATORY AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND; WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO after winning a competition with then Boeing.

[@edwinsemidey1992]

The Hornet is a Beast

[@BBBrasil]

you gotta love those rhinos I particularly like the growler configuration

[@watermirror]

The focus on air-air config is good since Superhornet's combat radius is short. Boeing's claim on strike config is only 594nmi even with 1 centerline drop tank but in actual USN reports only puts in below-400nmi. So Superhornet might be put in air-air role esp additional carrier defense

[@kayakutah]

It would be interesting to know the degree to which IRST is degraded in weather below the freezing level.

[@williambrasky3891]

Can’t imagine it matters much. Those sensors are likely cryo-cooled. When the floor is negative 153 C a few 10s of degrees +/- 0 should be well within bounds of the sensor’s dynamic range. Also, it’s cold as shit at 60,000 ft anyhow, way below freezing, way colder than it’d ever get around sea level. So, that’s all to say, they probably have that issue covered.

[@Aeronaut1975]

The Aim-9X Sidewinder uses the entire visible light spectrum to detect and track it's targets, not just IR, so I assume that IRIS-T missiles use a similar design philosophy, this is one of the reasons that the Aim-9X is so good at "ignoring" decoy flares etc, because it's not just looking at heat, it's also looking at UV and visible light sources and comparing them. *EDIT: I missread "IRST" as "IRIS-T", but still, what I said also applies.

[@kayakutah]

In weather below the freezing level, you're looking through a LOT of liquid water over the course of a mile or more. That absorbs IR radiation really well. Above the freezing level, not so much, but that wasn't the question. Ever notice how cool it feels when a cloud passes overhead? That's the loss of IR. There will be no appreciable visible light coming through all that weather. So, considering that, do your answers remain the same? I never carried the AIM-9X and never used IRST (I flew the F-14A), but it affected other variants of the AIM-9 dramatically. Even going to idle in an A-4F would prevent tone on an AIM-9L at a mile with clear line of sight. Those are cooled seekers as well. So. The question is not "is it tactically smart to come in below the freezing level". The question is, "what do you think the impact would be on the systems". I have my theories, but I'm 30 years out of the game.

[@felixu95]

@@kayakutah There would be no appreciable difference. I believe that your comment stems from a misunderstanding of the IR illumination that IRST systems use. When you feel colder when a cloud passes overhead, it's because you're no longer being illuminated by the sun, which, yes, theoretically lowers your heat signature, but that's because your body temperature is only under 100 fahrenheit. With the exhaust plume of an aircraft though, which is hot enough to melt aluminum, the added light from the sun is just noise - the exhaust is so hot compared to its surroundings that whether the air is below freezing or even above boiling doesn't really matter. The IRST systems for tracking vehicles are looking for temperatures from sources like these. That's the same reason why the M1 Abrams tank cools its very hot exhaust gases actively in order to lower its heat signature.

[@kayakutah]

@@felixu95 " When you feel colder when a cloud passes overhead, it's because you're no longer being illuminated by the sun, which, yes, theoretically lowers your heat signature," No. It doesn't lower YOUR heat signature, it lowers the heat - IR - signature of the source, in this case, the sun (or is that what you meant?). I guarantee that with an AIM-9L, a cloud will attenuate the IR given off by a jet exhaust. I've seen it in action. And the Lima is cooled as well. IR radiation is absorbed by liquid water. If you get enough of it between your seeker head and the target, it doesn't matter how hot the target is, as the vast majority of the radiation is absorbed - by liquid water. I imagine any IRST has a similar limitation.

[@Aeronaut1975]

2:07 Correct me if I'm wrong, but those "turbines" are actually compressor fans, the turbines are behind the compressor blades and are only visible from the rear aspect.

[@forzaelite1248]

Technically the front-most part is a fan blade, the compressors are behind that and in the engine housing like the turbine section is

[@MostlyPennyCat]

And the entire engine assembly is also known as a "turbine" You could refer to it all as turbomachinery, the fan, the compressor and the turbine. The first turbomachinery technology was probably the water wheel. But: All turbomachinery transfers energy to and from a fluid to rotational work. A fan is work-to-fluid A compressor is work-to-fluid A turbine is fluid-to-work Turbofans, like in the 18, go Fan, Compressor, Turbine.

[@dartheveloper5449]

fan blades bring in smooth air into the compressor fans if that explains it

[@justinmurphy2227]

Sorry I haven't commented much....I've just underwent a small spine surgery to prepare for a larger one in about 90 day. If you don't remember, I've had 4 to date in the last 5 years. This video was so informative! I had NO idea the "BUG" had so much more going on and more to offer. Who would have known it would have been so versatile? There's not another aircraft, and pilots of course, that I'd want protecting me if I was on the ground! Thank you again for accumulating and sharing all this knowledge with your animation. This channels one of a kind....no doubt about that! (I never received a t-shirt. It's ok just wanted you to know in case you were wondering why I haven't thanked you or shown it off in my FB group. Thank you PhoTog!!!)

[@mudpuppy4930]

Great video feel a little better for the Navy

[@Noisy_Cricket]

There aren't even that many AWACS aircraft that can dectect a Hornet at 100 miles with radar, let alone passive IRST. If that IRST range is even close to real, that's a HUGE advantage.

[@farish_5873]

F/A 18 is everything at this point, fighter, attacker, bomber, in the navy, in the air force, in the marine etc, stealth, can detect stealth, has tvc (nasa harv f 18), maneuverability, beautiful design

[@williambuchanan77]

Those planes are hunters. No doubt they'll have a major influence in future designs.

[@ogdocvato]

F-18E/F/G are powerful fighters, but their Achilles heel is their poor thrust to weight ratio. Super Hornet desperately needs the upgraded GE-F414 EPE engines with 15% more thrust according to current Rhino drivers in the USN. Personally, I'd rather be in an F-35 (or better yet - F/A-XX) when WW3 starts.

[@Anderson_Hwang]

the Achilles heel is the canted pylons. They create so much drag that a double bubble configuration has similar range to a single centerline tank

[@wonlop469]

I learned some interesting facts about the Hornet today...also about IRST and GaN. Thanks!

[@vonpredator]

Nice video! Also I believe the latest version will have conformal fuel tanks!

[@codychild2665]

I think I heard the Navy scrapped the CFTs? Not 100% sure but I hope they didn't...

[@lastcrusader101]

The Navy has decided against the addition of CFTs on the Block III. The primary reason for not going ahead with the CFTs I saw cited by the Navy was the increased logistical headache of attaching such tanks on top of the airplane in the cramped confines of a Carrier. They determined the additional struggles of mounting, dismounting, and maintaining CFTs on top of the air frame in such conditions were not worth the extra range, especially when mid-air refueling assets and traditional drop tanks were available. Also of note is that those tanks are very long, and do not really stack well together or compactly, which raised the issue of storing them on carriers.

[@22steve5150]

@@lastcrusader101 They figure that the MQ-25 Stingray being available as a carrier based stealthy air tanker should be a big help.

[@AA-xo9uw]

NAVAIR killed the CFTs back in January 2021.

[@drksideofthewal]

Damn, the block 3 Superhornet is cooler than I thought

[@M3PH11]

4:33 the thing about RAM's is that they normally don't come off ever unless they are faulty, as it is VERY expensive to install, maintain and remove them. The issues with the F35's turning green is an issue with salt water and the RAM coating. 5:27 this is a slash "\" and so is this "/". this is a dash (or a hyphen) "-". I guess we can attribute that to american education standards.

[@mrbaab5932]

The laser range finder in the IRST or targeting pod can determine the range without another plane. But being active like radar it gives away its location.

[@cubed0724]

For the hornet, it doesn't actually. So the Hornet can track stealth jets like J20 and SU-57 without giving away it's location.

[@tomaskolarik6114]

From what I've seen from pictures. Dasault Rafale has even better geometry of air intakes + it 4.2 version should have similar radar performance. Dont know if 2 rafales could share it "sensore feed" like newest F-18

[@Drauzet]

Stealthier than the su 57

[@hisroyalness2]

AND this very PRETTY plane is what the Blue Angles fly. It's a cool-dude however it's utilized.

[@JSFGuy]

Well, there was hope when they proposed that ASH a few years back.

[@codychild2665]

Love the SH! She's not the prettiest girl in the fleet but she gets it done. Good video!

[@spmadeinusa4594]

The video mentions TTNT, which my co-workers at Rockwell Collins developed. Suffice it to say, the unclassified features address legacy Link-16 shortcomings, whereas the classified TTNT features add significant new capabilities. Sadly, the Super Hornet production line will shut down in just a few years (2025) absent new orders.

[@mpeugeot]

Knew this back in the 90's... well a good portion of this... some of the sensor stuff is new.

[@benamarmohammedadam9243]

Boeing manufactures exceptional civil and combat aircraft

[@airprok8328]

You really did a great job n this video with public info

[@L.J.Kommer]

Huh. I was just looking into this topic. Great timing.

[@pollxxv]

lol, IFR probe fairing removed while talking about built in RCS. 1:30

[@vxe6vxe6]

IFR Probe fairing is usually removed in the RAG squadrons during Air to Air refueling training. If something goes wrong the hose does not beat the shit out of the door.

[@johnroberts9922]

No, the F-18 will never be a stealth aircraft. And its radar certainly cannot identify an F-35 until it is within visual range (WVR). The Russian S-400 SAM battery cannot target an F-35 until it is within about 8 miles of the radars. And it is among the best in the world.

[@naniyo0]

great video! i noticed that some of the new features of the latest FA18 somehow look familiar in the spec of F16V, including reduced RCS, improved computing and radar capabilities. Are there any real links between these FA-18 B3 and F16V? or is it just a pure coincidence?

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

I think you forgot to mention the new conformal fuel tanks on the Block 3 Rhinos which frees up the fuselage centreline station for pods such as the enclosed weapons bay and ISR-T.

[@womenslayer6942]

yea but the navy stop intergrate cft into their new block 3

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

@@womenslayer6942 hmm, interesting, how come? I haven’t seen this mentioned previously.

[@Aaron-wq3jz]

@@MaxwellAerialPhotography I think they had a few issues with it. I’m irritated they quit on it at the slightest inconvenience. Those tanks would have been extremely useful

[@womenslayer6942]

​@@MaxwellAerialPhotography they paused the development of cft at the begining of 2021 cause the problem related to cost, schedule and performance. However Boeing did offer cfts for block 3 export, there are potential customers at the time such as finland, canada and india but as u can see non of them pick the hornet instead goes for F35 and Rafale. Its sure an interesting concept but reality often dissaponted.

[@beibei93]

@@womenslayer6942 I think corrosion in a saltwater environment might be the reason.

[@LooxJJ]

Super Hornet is a marvel of engineering. To this date, other than F-35, there are no other aircraft that is equally capable. It is flexible, adaptable, easy to maintain with low cost of operation, scalable, and most impressively, more than capable to deal with all existing threat situation (A2A or A2G). Simply, there is no other aircraft in NATO or Russia/China that can match or replace Super Hornet's capacity.

[@camrsr5463]

They should change the name of the F-18 to the stinger.

[@christianhorner001]

The Australians fly a modified a super hornet. Aussie pilots are amazingly good.

[@chronosschiron]

they want to give 41 to ukraine its becoming a possibility

[@billymitchem5256]

Thanks

[@edwardkim8972]

Interestingly, the closest thing to a stealth Hornet is the Korean KF-21 since they both use the same GE engines.

[@sdfopsdmsdofjmp7863]

The Gripen also uses the same engine, and is probably more similar by virtue of being a non-stealthy airframe.

[@JSFGuy]

Let's check it out already.

[@rashidyunus2740]

The F/A 18 super hornet type of fighter aircraft that is difficult for the enemy to target because the shape of the wing plane looks very confusing to the target, the F/A 18 aircraft is the most dangerous and can destroy the enemy immediately.

[@vanguard9067]

Who knew that judicious use of Bondo and some sanding could enhance stealth characteristics:-)

[@fatdoi003]

those externally mounted IRST pods as if they're new tech.... other similar modern fighters have internal IRST not even worth mentioning

[@wstavis3135]

"An effective hunter of stealth aircraft" by what metric? They haven't actually fought stealth aircraft. They haven't performed any better than all the other 4th gen fighters in mock combat.

[@SeedOfElijah]

A bunch of the internet seems to be on a baffle'em with bulls€♤♧ mission re: weapons, war, china...

[@YouTube_user3333]

The term, “Stealth” is so overused now, it confuses most people. Reducing just the radar return doesn’t make an airframe stealth. Radar cross section tests are run for many reasons. 😂

[@ericclausen6772]

I never knew all this about the Super Hornet

[@gilgarcia3008]

I worked for Shultz Steel in South Gate California where we forged and machined the titanium bulkhead from a two ton piece of titanium.

[@vanguard9067]

So if the F-18 can use an IRST pod to detect stealth airplanes at 100 miles, doesn’t that mean our adversaries can develop that same capability, putting our stealth aircraft at risk?

[@rgloria40]

Are they now going to concentrate on configuring and engineering the F/A 18 Super Hornet to do Hypersonic Intercepts? Right now the F35 are on a speed restriction as well as prohibited to fly through a lightning storm. Relying on the US Air Force's Mach 2++ jet in the China Sea equal budget cuts for US NAVY. Best time to figure it out. We need the F/A XX like yesterday....

[@lucasguia6030]

I really need to bind and learn my hornet in dcs

[@Galm1]

Eh. I’d rather have an Eagle II. They’re both made by Boeing so I imagine they share a lot of technology.

[@iplz]

i was waiting for "radar resistant coating"

[@andrewpizzino2514]

Is it true the defense dept cut funding for block 3?

[@kokomo9764]

The F/A 18 is not stealthy at all. Any suggestion that it is, is absurd.

[@dougsg21]

Nice!

[@jamesolive3693]

Isn't that Tail configuration considered Stealth TECH also

[@watcher5729]

Swacs +bvr gives the edge

[@jordonstalder8404]

Always will be one of my favorite... You can hunt stealth aircraft while still having a gross load out 👀👀👀☕☕

[@JK-uj8ur]

If you carry weapons under the wings, you are not stealthy.

[@aghostofrazgriz5137]

Ok, idk who said Low Visibility is Stealth, but its dostorting the pourpose of Stealth. Stealth isnt lo vis. Stealth is Unseen until Shown. The F-16 has an RCS the size of a Sparrow in the Head On Attack. It is NOT stealth. The F-35, (WITH external weapons hung, not all internal, and well never be told the truth of its true stealth nature for a VERY long time,) has an RCS from a Bumble-Bee to a Dove, but i believe in a Head On attack, it wont return at all. The Su-57, has an rcs the size of Seagull. It is NOT stealth. The F-22, has an RCS of nothing. It litterally cannot show up oj a PD-radar. Same with an F-117 and B2, (although the B2 isnt stealth, too big t be, but it has other factors going for it, so well count it.) It IS stealth. "Stealth Equalizer". Ok, im done. Not even gonna finish watching.

[@Mr.Scootini]

I think it’s funny how the exact reason why I stopped playing WT is solely bc joystick players can’t keep up with mouse and keyboard players. The in-game physics is different

[@richardfiegen7378]

Amazing aircraft! God bless the USN and Marine Corps pilots.

[@vantonymccutcheon5334]

I love the F/A-18 Hornets n its F/A-18 Super Hornet n Super Hornet block ||| ❤❤❤✈✈✈🔥🔥👌🏾👌🏾

[@Ken_Koonz]

"It's not the plane Sir, it's the pilot."

[@thecommentator3732]

So a MIG-15 can beat an F-35 in a BVR fight?

[@Ken_Koonz]

@@thecommentator3732 If it can sneak up from behind I don't see why not. That's a big if though.

[@thecommentator3732]

@@Ken_Koonz you cant sneak from behind either since the F-35 has a 360 hmds bore

[@Ken_Koonz]

@@thecommentator3732 A what now?

[@thecommentator3732]

@@Ken_Koonz do you live in a cave or what? search up an HMDS Bore off sight

[@citizenblue]

Anybody ever tell you you sound like Jason Lee? I keep expecting a My Name is Earl reference

[@pyrho1]

The block 3 Super Hornets are probably more stealthy than the SU-57

[@ReviveHF]

Since Super Hornet are way stealthier than everyone thought, then why some countries bought F-35 instead?

[@Idahoguy10157]

Air Forces that operate Hornets and Super Hornets have been ordering F-35s. The Super Hornet was created because the US Navy needed a newer aircraft until they could get a stealth fighter that naval aviation was confident in operating off an aircraft carrier.

[@thecommentator3732]

Because the RCS size of the F-35 is smaller than the Rhino? Use common sense bud

[@StrikeNoir105E]

Because the F-35 is still inherently superior to the Hornet in all the parameters that matter, including stealth and detection capabilities. The Super Hornet is best described as a "low observables" aircraft that has some stealth features, but not full-aspect stealth. Also, the capabilities described for the Super Hornet are all things the F-35 can do innately without the use of external pods and add-ons.

[@a.fredscullard162]

I believe the GoC wanted to buy the Super Hornet for the RCAF but due to the Boeing action on Bombardier a few years ago, they went with the F35A instead!

[@whalehands]

People tend to forget how new this aircraft really is. Its arguably the best aircraft in the sky today minus a couple 5th gens. Growler is basically a 5th gen aircraft wearing a 4th gen body. I would take this aircraft and pilots over any foreign adversaries in war.

[@airprok8328]

Well said! I do think it’s considered a 4.5 gen

[@LeonDixon-c6z]

The super hornet isn't stealthy no way, it may have reduced RCS but no way is it stealthy. The Royal Australian Air Force realized this and to replace the F-111C and one had to order F/A-18F Super hornets with EA-18G Growlers as protective ESM/ECM/SEAD complementary aircraft to increase effectiveness. Just recently they received 71 x F-35A stealth 5th gen capabilities, a much improvement over non stealth 4.5 gen aircraft. With new long range weapons like JASSM-ER, AGM-88G AARGM-ER, LRASM and AIM-160 with Super hornets Block 3 upgrades and Growlers new generation jammer improvements should increase the capabilities but still they are and will be only 4.5gen non stealth aircraft of limited capability. Anything that's not 5th 6th gen is vulnerable unless escorted by dedicated electronic warfare aircraft.

[@KernowekTim]

A wonderful aircraft. Proven platform; tough, reliable, effective.

[@briancavanagh7048]

With the exception of range.

[@airprok8328]

Such a beautiful jet! We need it in the dcs

[@thereoc]

I’m pretty sure they have a mod for it, you just need the base F/A-18C

[@stephentaylor5337]

A Stealth Hornet is in the boneyard

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Are you really calling the manufacturer "Boing" ? LoL

[@CloakerV8]

Boeing was the one that introduced and manufactured the Fa-18 Super Hornet after McDonnell Douglas went defunct after its Md-11 failure and was forced to merge with Boeing in 1997 which Boeing slowly became McDonnell Douglas under a different name as seen in the 737 Max disaster

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@CloakerV8 Did you totally miss my point ?? LoL

[@TheSoloist1Alone]

I honestly don’t think China or Russia wants the pain these lethal birds can distribute 🇺🇸✊🏾🇺🇦🇹🇭

[@proscreens2137]

Pity an F14 can easily outrun it

[@shroud1390]

It did 10Gs in the movie

[@DamplyDoo]

Are they actually going to build an advanced super hornet? I thought it was a proposal along the f15 silent eagle 🤔

[@airprok8328]

It’s already done. The navy is set to receive about 70ish block 3s while upgrading their 550 some block 2s to the block 3. You can search on KZbin our Navy getting their first couple block 3s…. It’s considered a 4.5 gen fighter attack aircraft. That’s what I’ve heard by multiple sources anyway

[@DamplyDoo]

@@airprok8328 did they stop calling it the advanced super hornet? Maybe that's why i haven't heard anything

[@thenovicegamer007]

​@@DamplyDoo Advanced Hornet was when it was in the design phase. Now that it has entered production, it is called the Block 2 (since Block 1 and 2 already existed). Note that while the Block 3 incorporates most of the technology showcased in the Advanced Hornet some stuff is missing to reduce cost.

[@DamplyDoo]

@@thenovicegamer007 like the weapon pod? Thanks for having so much info on this

[@thenovicegamer007]

@@DamplyDoo No problem. Happy to help.

[@amcds2867]

Doesn't it make sense to incorporate these new technologies into upgraded F16s and F15s...

[@thecommentator3732]

No

[@amcds2867]

@@thecommentator3732 if you say so.

[@ioanbota9397]

I like this powerful fighters jets

[@virgilius7036]

F18 can't become stealthy because it must be done by design. You need a line that does not reflect radar waves!

[@timoslempiainen3630]

So if the Hornet is so good, why is the navy replacing it with the F35 C in few years why.

[@jg3000]

That's a pie in the sky dream.

[@fallinginthed33p]

The air intakes look like intakes from the Su-27 family.

[@HAN-je5hq]

Not even close tbh, theres no russian aircraft before F-18E to have such an air intakes

[@marlonb.8243]

Is the F/A-18 still being manufactured?

[@thenovicegamer007]

Yes it is. It will be stopped from 2025 I believe.

[@LeeAtkinson98]

WOW FUSIONS ALGORITHM .... you mean basic trigonometry aka parallax lol

[@darell5130]

Good Documentary but the War Thunder commercial Sucks.

[@rogesc7183]

They have to put the IRST on the middle centerline fuel tank other wise they have to get rid of the gun. If they drop the center IRST Tank that carries 330 US GALLONS, there goes a very expensive fuel tank. And the conformal fuel tanks the navy decided not to get, that would of added around 260 miles to the combat range. That should let the carrier stand off a bit farther or give the F-18E/F even more maneuvering if needed on a mission. The Super Hornet is a good carrier based do every thing jet, the conformal fuel tanks would of been the best up grade for all F-18E/Fs of all blocks.

[@aabp2317]

Why bother when you have the F-35. They need to build more F-35 fighters and decomission all the F-18, A-10, F-16, F-15 and F-22 planes.

[@Dirtyharry70585]

Mmmmm would seem the f35 and f22 all use the swarm techniques so the f18 would defensive. But the author should be concentrating on the J in the newer SU 57 aircraft, much easier to detect in this message instead of its own brothers aircraft