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Upgradable and adaptable F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft are expected to “remain relevant for a very long time”, according to recent comments from retired US F/A-18 instructor pilot Trevor “Gonky” Hartsock earlier this week.
Hartsock made the comments during an interview with retired US Air Force F-16 pilot and defence analyst CW Lemoine on 12 August.
F/A-18 Super Hornets multi-role fighter have been used extensively for air interception, air combat, close air support of ground troops and interception of enemy supply lines including shipping.
Super Hornets originally entered operational service with the US Navy in 2001 to replace F-14 Tomcats and also entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2010. The ageing aircraft, used across combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, are planned to be replaced by F/A-XX aircraft for the US Navy in the 2030s.
“The Super Hornet is not perfect, but it is a very robust, solid fighter design. It doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, but it does everything pretty well,” Hartsock said.
“I do still think that the Super Hornet is relevant because they continue to upgrade the avionics and make it relevant ... I think it’s going to be relevant for a very long time.
“The secret sauce is beneath the skin, the avionics … The airplane is upgradable. One of the cool things about even the Legacy Hornet (is) it’s like ‘pull this box out because it’s outdated and put this box in’. It had growth potential.
“Things with stealth, like the F-35 and F-22, well it’s not that, and it will never be like that, because that’s part of the airframe design. I think that probably 99 per cent of the time the Super Hornet can do just as good a job as an F-35 in any given naval aerial type engagement – air-to-air or air-to-surface or ground.
“But the F-35 definitely has its strong points and it is more survivable in places where the Super Hornet just can’t go. So, it’s good that we have both.
“With the Legacy (Hornet) and the Super Hornet, they built that jet with growth in mind.
“The Super Hornet’s is the backbone of Navy fighter aviation and I actually think it was designed as basically a stopgap aeroplane until the F-35. But it has lasted … It’s the toughest airplane that I’ve ever flown, when you sit in it, it feels like you’re in a quality product.”
The Royal Australian Air Force has 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets used in conjunction with F-35A Lightning II stealth aircraft and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
Larger than the “Classic” Hornet predecessor, the Super Hornet offered enhanced capabilities in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions after 24 aircraft were delivered to the ADF in late 2011.
Wing Commander Trent Baldry, Commanding Officer No. 1 Squadron, said No. 1 Squadron operationalised with the Super Hornet on 8 December 2010 after rigorous training in the United States.
“Flying the Super Hornet is an incredible privilege; the two-crew model of the Rhino consisting of a pilot and a weapon systems officer (or WSO) truly enables a simultaneous multi-role capability increasing its lethality and survivability in combat,” WGCDR Baldry said.
“The Rhino and its crews have proven this time and time again over the past 15 years both on exercise and on combat operations in the Middle East.
“It’s an absolute honour to fly the Super Hornet and to be part of the legacy of this remarkable aircraft.”
Super Hornets were deployed for strike missions supporting Australia’s coalition operations against Daesh in Iraq in October 2014. The first Air Force combat deployments since Classic Hornet operations in Iraq in 2003.
No. 1 Squadron now operates Super Hornet aircraft out of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland.
“The F/A-18F Super Hornet has proven to be a formidable capability. I am so proud of the aviators who have worked so hard to shepherd the platform to this important milestone. Now 15 years on, as Air Commander Australia, I underestimated how bright the future would be,” said Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz.
