Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Josh_TN said:
I’m curious how that would have worked…
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The aircraft was on the ground, so it was a launch to GPS co-ordinates and MMW terminal seek.

Does AARGM have a datalink? It was mentioned in here as an expanded capability.

If so you could theoretically cue the missile with the launch aircraft radar and provide a mid-course update and then leave the MMW seeker to do the final bit. Probably very difficult to jam too, since not many aircraft have jamming in the MMW band.
 
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Here are photos I took of a flight demonstration of the FA-18F Super Hornet in 2016. Nikon DSLR 24.5 MPixel with 70- 300 mm zoom.
 

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Training_Dummy said:
I thought only the legacy hornets are getting GaN TRM based radars?
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turdef.com

USMC Tests RI&S’s APG-79(V)4 GaN-AESA Radar on F/A-18 Hornet | TURDEF

Raytheon announced that a pre-production version of the APG-79(V)4 AESAradar had completed its first flight on a USMC-operated F/A-18.
turdef.com turdef.com
The AN/APG-79 radar systems will be supplied to F/A-18E/F Super Hornets as part of the Super Hornet program Block II upgrade. The US Navy’s EA-18G Electronic Attack aircraft will also be equipped with the APG-79 AESA radar system.
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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3uamsXfzIE
Featuring the F-18's RCS reduction measures, the new IRST pod, and Gallium Nitride or GaN radar, the Block III Super Hornet does it all.
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Are you sure? I looked before I posted and came across several articles stating the -79(v)4 is the first GaN based radar for US fighters. Obviously the standard -79 is GaA based. I couldn't come across any articles on Block III behind low observability, TTNT, IRST/center line tank, comms.... thanks in advance
 
I believe the APG-79(V)4 is intended solely for the remaining legacy F/A-18s. I don't think the USN is still flying any of those, but the USMC still is. I'd have to assume since the USMC does more land-based operations that their airframes weren't all worn out like the USN ones must have been when retired. The array on the (V)4 is physically smaller than the "full-size" APG-79s used in the Super Hornet in order to fit in the smaller aircraft.

It seems odd that the first operational GaN fighter radar for the US would be for a relatively small fleet of fighters. I can only assume a GaN-based upgrade for the Super Hornet is in the works, but I haven't read any news about it.

I'm left wondering what are the (V)1 through (V)3 variants of the APG-79, there doesn't seem many details. It's quite a big skip to (V)4.
 
Training_Dummy said:
Are you sure? I looked before I posted and came across several articles stating the -79(v)4 is the first GaN based radar for US fighters. Obviously the standard -79 is GaA based. I couldn't come across any articles on Block III behind low observability, TTNT, IRST/center line tank, comms.... thanks in advance
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Just going by what I'm reading. Maybe the SH version is a bigger one with the GaN radars?? It kind of seems like a sensible move since it's the aircraft that would benefit the most from GaN, especially given the new super-SAM.
 
Colonial-Marine said:
I believe the APG-79(V)4 is intended solely for the remaining legacy F/A-18s. I don't think the USN is still flying any of those, but the USMC still is. I'd have to assume since the USMC does more land-based operations that their airframes weren't all worn out like the USN ones must have been when retired. The array on the (V)4 is physically smaller than the "full-size" APG-79s used in the Super Hornet in order to fit in the smaller aircraft.

It seems odd that the first operational GaN fighter radar for the US would be for a relatively small fleet of fighters. I can only assume a GaN-based upgrade for the Super Hornet is in the works, but I haven't read any news about it.

I'm left wondering what are the (V)1 through (V)3 variants of the APG-79, there doesn't seem many details. It's quite a big skip to (V)4.
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Forest Green said:
Just going by what I'm reading. Maybe the SH version is a bigger one with the GaN radars?? It kind of seems like a sensible move since it's the aircraft that would benefit the most from GaN, especially given the new super-SAM.
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The first 135 or so Super Hornets (Block I, delivered from 1999)* had the same AN/APG-73 radar as the F/A-18C/Ds (because the AN/APG-79 was not ready).

Block II Super Hornets (including all EA-18Gs) have a modified forward fuselage for the larger APG-79 - a small number of Block II airframes were fitted initially with APG-73s because the APG-79 was STILL not ready (deliveries of APG-79 equipped Block IIs began in 2005), they have since been refitted with APG-79s.

All Block IIIs have the APG-79.

Most of those 135 Block I F/A-18E/Fs will also receive the APG-79(V)4s along with the USMC's remaining F/A-18C/Ds.


* The Super Hornets the Blue Angels received over a year ago are Block I airframes.
 
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BlackBat242 said:
The first 135 or so Super Hornets (Block I, delivered from 1999)* had the same AN/APG-73 radar as the F/A-18C/Ds (because the AN/APG-79 was not ready).

Block II Super Hornets (including all EA-18Gs) have a modified forward fuselage for the larger APG-79 - a small number of Block II airframes were fitted initially with APG-73s because the APG-79 was STILL not ready (deliveries of APG-79 equipped Block IIs began in 2005), they have since been refitted with APG-79s.

All Block IIIs have the APG-79.

Most of those 135 Block I F/A-18E/Fs will also receive the APG-79(V)4s along with the USMC's remaining F/A-18C/Ds.


* The Super Hornets the Blue Angels received over a year ago are Block I airframes.
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I knew some early Super Hornets had the APG-73 but did not know their radome/forward fuselage was different. I had assumed that from the start it had been sized to fit the eventual APG-79.

Has there been any news about a GaN upgrade for the full-sized APG-79 that is on all of the Block II and later models?
 
I think originally they planned for a more modest AESA, APG-73 RUG III. Then for whatever reason they adopted a clean sheet design. Block I Super Hornet has quite a lot in common with the late legacy bugs while Block II really is its own man.
 
This is something of an off-the-wall question, but it's about simplifying logistics:

How difficult would it be to swap the Super Hornet's M61 20mm Vulcan cannon for either a GAU-12 or GAU-22 25mm Vulcan cannon? This is basically to remove the 20mm gun from USMC logistics. (Sadly, can't eliminate it from the USN logistics unless you replace all the Phalanx CIWS with 25mm guns instead of 20mm.)

It looks like the hard part would be the ammo drum.
 
Scott Kenny said:
This is something of an off-the-wall question, but it's about simplifying logistics:

How difficult would it be to swap the Super Hornet's M61 20mm Vulcan cannon for either a GAU-12 or GAU-22 25mm Vulcan cannon? This is basically to remove the 20mm gun from USMC logistics. (Sadly, can't eliminate it from the USN logistics unless you replace all the Phalanx CIWS with 25mm guns instead of 20mm.)

It looks like the hard part would be the ammo drum.
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The USMC has NO Super Hornets - never did, never will, not even EA-18Gs.

As soon as its F/A-18A++/C/Ds are replaced with F-35s (4 squadrons of F-35C and the rest F-35Bs) the M61 will be out of USMC logistics.

The AV-8Bs, with their GAU-12, will actually leave service first - by late 2025 according to the most recent USMC plan I've seen, while the Hornets will leave the USMC by late 2030.
 
BlackBat242 said:
The USMC has NO Super Hornets - never did, never will, not even EA-18Gs.

As soon as its F/A-18A++/C/Ds are replaced with F-35s (4 squadrons of F-35C and the rest F-35Bs) the M61 will be out of USMC logistics.

The AV-8Bs, with their GAU-12, will actually leave service first - by late 2025 according to the most recent USMC plan I've seen, while the Hornets will leave the USMC by late 2030.
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Do they not have any Phalanx systems?
 
That's the first time I've seen photographs of the AN/ALQ-249 NGJ pods and I must say they're definitely sleeker and more compact than the veteran AN/ALQ-99 pods.
 
NMaude said:
That's the first time I've seen photographs of the AN/ALQ-249 NGJ pods and I must say they're definitely sleeker and more compact than the veteran AN/ALQ-99 pods.
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They are apparently very draggy during operation because of how much air the turbo generator draws. Combat radius is said to only be ~300 nm per one source I read.
 
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BAE Systems has been tasked with upgrading the flight control computers (FCC) of two fighter aircraft, the F-15EX Eagle II and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
Selected by Boeing, BAE Systems, the original manufacturer of these flight control systems, will implement a refresh of the flight control computers. The upgrades aim to increase processing power and improve cyber and product security.
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www.airforce-technology.com

BAE Systems to fit upgrades on F-15EX and F/A-18E/F - Airforce Technology

BAE Systems and Boeing are collaborating to enhance the flight control computers for the F-15EX Eagle II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
www.airforce-technology.com www.airforce-technology.com
 
Alex Hollings from Sandboxx has just put out a video about the EA-18G Growler:


Boeing's EA-18G Growler is a specialized, carrier-capable electronic warfare aircraft based on the F/A-18 Super Hornet — and when it comes to wreaking havoc on enemy electronics, it has few peers on the world's stage. And now, with its new Next Generation Jammer pods coming online, it's getting even better.
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Kills the F-14 right there. It is going to be disparage the Tomcat season again.

Edit: Silly me. I should have checked immediately to see he was a Topgun instructor!
 
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Ozair said:
I'm confused why Jay thinks this is such a big deal. The whole point of the F/A-18 was self escort strike, it was literally designed to do exactly what the video demonstrates...
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Before that point it had never been done before, everyone else would have been forced to drop their bombs and fight effectively causing the strike to be a failure. This was proof that the design worked, the modern multirole had arrived.
 
F-2 said:
Before that point it had never been done before, everyone else would have been forced to drop their bombs and fight effectively causing the strike to be a failure. This was proof that the design worked, the modern multirole had arrived.
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Still would have had to jettison the bombs if they started turning. ISTR the Mig-21 was BVR flying a pretty level intercept, the Bug driver tried to defend with a Fox-1, locked him up, pulled the trigger, a Fox-2 came off the rail, he selected the correct missile, shot the Fox-1, Fox-2 killed the Mig before the merge, before the Sparrow could arrive. If they merged my money is on stores jettison, if the second in the face heater doesn't kill him. Your milage may vary.

Main difference is that the Bug's radar could allow decent long BVR, versus the Phantoms who'd still be guiding the Fox-1 when the bad guy's all aspect Fox-2 was launched for a mutual mort. Real application is Superbug and the like with nice uber AESA radars and D model don't need to pull a lot of G's to defend. Also, more likely than not, they would rather run away than drop their expensive munition.
 
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mkellytx said:
versus the Phantoms who'd still be guiding the Fox-1 when the bad guy's all aspect Fox-2 was launched for a mutual mort.
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The AA-2 Atoll missiles available to the NV MiG-21s weren't capable of all-aspect engagements like the much later AIM-9L/M as they were essentially unlicensed (As in stolen) copies of the AIM-9B.
 
NMaude said:
The AA-2 Atoll missiles available to the NV MiG-21s weren't capable of all-aspect engagements like the much later AIM-9L/M as they were essentially unlicensed (As in stolen) copies of the AIM-9B.
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Neither did the Phantom, hence drop bombs and turn. My point was the radar made the difference, the Phantoms could carry the same model Sparrows as the Bug, the radar couldn't exploit it. An updated ICE with the same radar as the Bug could have done the same thing.

The part about the mutual morts was a regular occurrence at Red Flag. Granted we gave the aggressors Lima's and Mike's, but if you can develop the TTP to overcome that, much less capable R-60M's are less hard to defeat.
 
mkellytx said:
Neither did the Phantom, hence drop bombs and turn.
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I'm aware of that, what I was pointing out is that all-aspect AA-2 Atoll missiles didn't exist in the 60s with them being clones of the AIM-9B (Which was very far from being an all-aspect IR homing missile).
 
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mkellytx said:
Still would have had to jettison the bombs if they started turning. ISTR the Mig-21 was BVR flying a pretty level intercept, the Bug driver tried to defend with a Fox-1, locked him up, pulled the trigger, a Fox-2 came off the rail, he selected the correct missile, shot the Fox-1, Fox-2 killed the Mig before the merge, before the Sparrow could arrive. If they merged my money is on stores jettison, if the second in the face heater doesn't kill him. Your milage may vary.
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Correct. One of the Hornet pilots involved said in an interview that if the MiGs had made it to the merge, they would have had to jettison their bombs thus aborting the strike mission. It wasnt a turning fight at all.
 

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