Article Summary: Despite the old F-14 Tomcat getting so much praise, even though it retired many years ago, the Navy has something far better. The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is the U.S. Navy’s most advanced carrier-based fighter, featuring a large-area display cockpit, extended service life, and enhanced networking capabilities.
Key Points #1 – Its AESA radar, conformal fuel tanks, and reduced radar cross-section improve combat performance and survivability. While not as stealthy as the F-35C, the Super Hornet is a cost-effective, battle-tested aircraft with multirole flexibility for air superiority, strike, ISR, and electronic warfare.
Key Point #2 – With 10,000 flight hours and global adoption, the Block III is set to remain a key component of U.S. naval air power well into the future.
F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III: The Navy’s Next-Gen Fighter Is Here
The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III represents the pinnacle of modern naval aviation, embodying decades of technological advancements and operational experience. The Block III is the newest upgrade to the ever-reliable F-18 Hornet.
As the latest iteration, the Block III variant is designed to meet the evolving demands of modern warfare, ensuring the U.S. Navy maintains air superiority well into the future.
From Block II to Block III
The F/A-18 Super Hornet was developed to replace the aging F-14 Tomcat, with the goal of providing a versatile, carrier-capable multirole fighter. The Super Hornet entered service in the late 1990s, with the F/A-18E (single-seat) and F/A-18F (two-seat) variants quickly becoming the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings.
The Block III upgrade is the latest in a series of enhancements aimed at extending the aircraft’s service life and improving its capabilities. This upgrade builds on the success of the Block II variant, which introduced significant improvements in avionics, radar, and weapons systems.
Priced at only $67 million per unit, the Super Hornet Block III is not only highly capable but also relatively affordable compared to other modern fighter jets.
Improving an Already Excellent Fighter
The Block III Super Hornet features a state-of-the-art cockpit with a large area display (LAD), which provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness. The LAD replaces multiple smaller displays, allowing for a more intuitive and streamlined interface. This upgrade is crucial for managing the increased flow of information in modern combat scenarios.
One of the most notable features of the Block III is its advanced networking capabilities. The Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) allows the Super Hornet to share data with other aircraft and ground stations in real-time. This capability is essential for modern network-centric warfare, where information superiority can be a decisive factor.
The Block III variant is equipped with the AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which offers superior detection and tracking capabilities compared to older radar systems. The AESA radar provides greater range, improved resolution, and better resistance to electronic countermeasures.
To address the increasing need for longer-range missions, the Block III Super Hornet includes conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) that increase the aircraft’s fuel capacity without significantly impacting its aerodynamic performance.
These tanks allow the Super Hornet to fly longer missions without the need for aerial refueling, enhancing its operational flexibility.
While not a stealth aircraft, the Block III Super Hornet incorporates design features that reduce its radar cross-section (RCS). These enhancements make the aircraft less detectable to enemy radar, improving its survivability in contested environments.
Addressing the need for longer flight missions, the jet’s service life was also upgraded. The Block III upgrade extends the Super Hornet’s service life to 10,000 flight hours, ensuring that it remains a viable platform for decades to come. This extension is achieved through structural enhancements and improved maintenance procedures.
The Navy’s Most Reliable Aircraft
The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is designed to perform a wide range of missions, making it one of the most versatile aircraft in the U.S. Navy’s inventory. The Super Hornet is capable of engaging enemy aircraft with a variety of air-to-air missiles, ensuring control of the skies.
Equipped with precision-guided munitions, the Super Hornet can also conduct both close air support and deep strike missions against ground targets.
On top of that, advanced sensors and targeting pods allow the Super Hornet to gather and relay critical battlefield information making it vital for ISR. The Block III can carry electronic warfare pods to disrupt enemy communications and radar systems.
The two-seat variant can be configured as an aerial refueling tanker, extending the range of other carrier-based aircraft. The Super Hornet is one of the most reliable aircraft the Navy has, allowing it to perform pretty much any mission required of it.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is Here to Stay
The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is not only a cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s air power but also a significant asset for allied nations. Countries like Australia and Kuwait have integrated the Super Hornet into their air forces, benefiting from its advanced capabilities and reliability.
Looking ahead, the Block III Super Hornet is expected to complement the F-35C Lightning II in the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings. While the F-35C brings stealth and advanced sensor fusion to the table, the Super Hornet offers a proven, cost-effective solution for a wide range of missions.
Together, these aircraft will ensure that the U.S. Navy remains a dominant force in the skies.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III is the culmination of years of innovation and operational experience. With its advanced systems, extended range, and versatile mission capabilities, the Block III is poised to remain a critical component of the U.S. Navy’s air power for years to come.
As threats continue to evolve, the Super Hornet will adapt and continue to deliver unmatched performance and reliability.
F/A-18: A Story in Pictures
A Canadian CF-18 Hornet in flight during an air combat training exercise for Squadron 425 pilots from Bagotville.
Canada CF-18 Hornet Fighter
(Dec. 7, 2024) LT Steven Holcomb, attached to the Gunslingers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, operates a F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck during flight operations, Dec. 7, 2024. USS George H.W. Bush is in the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan conducting flight deck certification.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jayden Brown)
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (July 11, 2016) A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by a crew from the 465th Air Refueling Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., in support of Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Grady Epperly)
An F/A-18 Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, MAG-11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), carrying ten AIM-120 and two AIM-9X Air-to-Air missiles, prepares to refuel over the W-291 training area in southern California, March 6. MAG-11 supports and integrates aviation combat power and capabilities while enhancing 3rd MAW’s ability generate lethality for the supported Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). (U.S Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dominic Romero)
The ‘Wall of Fire” detonates behind two U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornets during the 2022 Kaneohe Bay Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 13, 2022. The air show provided an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of a Joint Force in the Indo-Pacific Region. The Kaneohe Bay Air Show, which contained aerial performances, static displays, demonstrations and vendors, was designed to express MCBH’s appreciation to the residents of Hawaii and their continued support of the installation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick King)
(June 18, 2023) An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22 breaks the sound barrier during flight operations near the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is underway conducting routine operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin Tang)
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
