The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is an American twin-engine military strike fighter designed for aircraft-carrier operations. The F/A-18E has one seat, while the F/A-18F has two. Although it developed from the earlier Hornet family, the Super Hornet is a larger aircraft with increased capability and should be distinguished from the F/A-18A through D.[1]F/A-18A-D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike FighterUnited States Navy · navy.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Development
The Super Hornet programme expanded the Hornet concept to meet naval requirements for range, payload and carrier suitability. The United States Navy's account describes it as an evolution of the strike-fighter role, combining fighter and attack duties within the carrier air wing.[1]F/A-18A-D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike FighterUnited States Navy · navy.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
The family has undergone successive improvements. The Navy's historical fact file discusses Block II and the transition to Block III, while Boeing's product material describes the more recent configuration.[1]F/A-18A-D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike FighterUnited States Navy · navy.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 GrowlerBoeing · boeing.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Carrier and combat roles
A naval strike fighter must operate both as a combat aircraft and as part of a carrier's launch, recovery and maintenance system. The Super Hornet's mission includes air-to-air and air-to-surface tasks, allowing aircraft within the same family to support different requirements during a deployment.[1]F/A-18A-D Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Strike FighterUnited States Navy · navy.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
The E and F designations principally distinguish the single-seat and two-seat versions. They do not mean that the F is simply a non-combat trainer. Boeing presents both as members of the operational Super Hornet family.[2]F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 GrowlerBoeing · boeing.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Block III
Boeing describes Block III improvements in terms of networking, cockpit information and extended airframe service life. These developments concern both how the aircraft presents information to its crew and how it connects with the wider force. They represent a continuing development of the aircraft, rather than a new basic designation replacing E or F.[2]F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 GrowlerBoeing · boeing.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Relationship to the Growler
The EA-18G Growler uses the Super Hornet platform for a different principal mission: electronic attack. Boeing presents the two programmes together because of their shared design and industrial relationship, but their mission equipment and functions differ.[2]F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18 GrowlerBoeing · boeing.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Propulsion and naval service
Two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines power the Super Hornet. Naval Air Systems Command lists each engine in the 22,000-pound thrust class. The E/F aircraft were rolled out at McDonnell Douglas in 1995, and later became a principal strike-fighter type in the Navy's carrier air wings. The Blue Angels began transitioning to Super Hornets in 2020.[3]F/A-18E/F Super HornetNaval Air Systems Command · navair.navy.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details