One of the toughest fighter jets currently in service, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet is the US Navy’s primary carrier-capable fleet defender and strike fighter, proven in combat and destined to remain in service for many years to come. An evolutionary redesign of the original F-18 Hornet, the Super Hornet’s airframe is 25% larger than its predecessor and incorporates a host of weapons and avionics improvements, which make this one of the most effective naval aircraft in the world today.
The F-18 Super Hornet is one of the aircraft currently operated by the famous US Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program, with is better known as ‘Top Gun’. Following combat experiences during the Vietnam War, the US Navy established this program to better equip their pilots for future deployment against enemy air forces, using specially prepared aircraft to simulate the tactics and appearance of potential adversaries. It was hoped that these training experiences would better prepare them for success in the challenging environment of aerial combat.