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Politics.The way I've heard or read about it, the upper echelons of NAVAIR at the time were dominated by former A-7 pilots, whose squadrons generally transitioned to the F/A-18A-D. There was quite a strong Hornet lobby, which also coincided with then-SecDef Dick Cheney having a hate boner for Grumman. The Super Hornet is essentially an evolved Hornet 2000 and was sold as an affordable "variant" of the existing Hornet that would rein in costs, which was relevant given the gradual detente between the US and Soviet Union at the time and the latter's dissolution shortly after.To be fair, the F/A-18E/F has evolved to be quite a versatile strike fighter and has been a reliable workhorse during the GWOT, if somewhat lacking in raw kinematics particularly when it comes to high energy rate fights. That said, a replacement for the Super Hornet is well overdue, with the upcoming F/A-XX placing a greater emphasis on fleet air defense.
Politics.
The way I've heard or read about it, the upper echelons of NAVAIR at the time were dominated by former A-7 pilots, whose squadrons generally transitioned to the F/A-18A-D. There was quite a strong Hornet lobby, which also coincided with then-SecDef Dick Cheney having a hate boner for Grumman. The Super Hornet is essentially an evolved Hornet 2000 and was sold as an affordable "variant" of the existing Hornet that would rein in costs, which was relevant given the gradual detente between the US and Soviet Union at the time and the latter's dissolution shortly after.
To be fair, the F/A-18E/F has evolved to be quite a versatile strike fighter and has been a reliable workhorse during the GWOT, if somewhat lacking in raw kinematics particularly when it comes to high energy rate fights. That said, a replacement for the Super Hornet is well overdue, with the upcoming F/A-XX placing a greater emphasis on fleet air defense.
