F/A - 18 Hornet

F/A-18 Hornet
A USMC F/A-18 in flight
Role	Multirole fighter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas / Boeing Northrop
First flight	18 November 1978
Introduction	7 January 1983
Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps Royal Australian Air Force Spanish Air Force
Number built	>1,458
Unit cost	US$41 million in 2008[citation needed]
Developed from	Northrop YF-17
Variants	CF-18 Hornet F/A-18E/F Super Hornet High Alpha Research Vehicle

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. Designed in the 1970s for service with the United States Navy and 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.^[1]

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.^[2]