Credit
U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr. · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
Loading the evidence…
Preparing your view.
Preparing your view.
At a glance
Measured figures
F/A-18E/F · Length
Single sourceOfficial specification · ; 60.2 feet (18.3 meters)
Manufacturer claimConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Carrier-based multirole fighter[source] | Multirole strike fighter[source] |
| National origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas (1995–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–present)[source] | McDonnell Douglas (1985–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–2017)[source] |
| Status | In service |
60 ft 1.25 in (18.31 m)[source]
F-15E · Length
Single source63 ft 9.6 in (19.446 m)[source]
Empty; F/A-18E/F · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; F/A-18E/F · equipped for fighter escort
Single sourceMaximum take-off; F/A-18E/F · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Official specification · ; 66,000 pounds (29,937 kilograms)
Manufacturer claim32,081 lb (14,552 kg)[source]
47,000 lb (21,320 kg) (equipped for fighter escort)[source]
66,000 lb (29,937 kg)[source]
Empty; F-15E · or
Single sourceEmpty; F-15E · with CFTs
Single sourceCruise; F/A-18E/F · fighter escort
Single sourceMaximum; F/A-18E/F · at 36,000 ft, air-to-air loadout (2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, internal fuel only)
Single sourceMaximum; F/A-18E/F · at sea level Mach 1.62
Single sourceMaximum; F/A-18E/F · Mach 1.8 clean at 40,000 ft Mach 1.06
Single sourceMach 1.8, 1,030 kn (1,185 mph; 1,908 km/h) clean at 40,000 ft Mach 1.06, 700 kn (806 mph; 1,296 km/h) at sea level Mach 1.62, 932 kn (1,073 mph; 1,726 km/h) at 36,000 ft, air-to-air loadout (2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, internal fuel only)[source]
482 kn (555 mph, 893 km/h) fighter escort[source]
Maximum; F-15E · at low altitude
Single sourceMaximum; F-15E · Mach 2.5 at high altitude Mach 1.2
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · with armament of two AIM-9s
Single sourceFerry; F/A-18E/F · Ferry range
Single source1,275 nmi (1,458 mi, 2,346 km) with armament of two AIM-9s[source]
1,800 nmi (2,070 mi, 3,330 km)[source]
Ferry; F-15E · with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Single source2,100 nmi (2,400 mi, 3,900 km) with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks[source]
F/A-18E/F · deck launched intercept with 2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, 1× drop tank
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · fighter escort with 2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, internal fuel only
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · hi-lo-hi mission with 2× GBU-10 laser guided bombs, 1× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, 3× drop tanks
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · interdiction mission with 4× Mark 83 bombs, 2× AIM-9, 2× drop tanks
Single source558 nmi (642 mi, 1,033 km) hi-lo-hi mission with 2× GBU-10 laser guided bombs, 1× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, 3× drop tanks 404 nmi (465 mi; 748 km) fighter escort with 2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, internal fuel only 201 nmi (231 mi; 372 km) deck launched intercept with 2× AIM-120, 2× AIM-9, 1× drop tank 388 nmi (447 mi; 719 km) interdiction mission with 4× Mark 83 bombs, 2× AIM-9, 2× drop tanks[source]
F-15E · air interdiction
Single source687 nmi (791 mi, 1,272 km) air interdiction[source]
F/A-18E/F · 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans thrust each dry
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · with afterburner
Single source2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans , 13,000 lbf (58 kN) thrust each dry, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) with afterburner[source]
F-15E · ); 29,160 lb (
Single sourceF-15E · 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan thrust each dry
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · F/A-18E
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · F/A-18F with provisions to carry combinations of
Single sourceF/A-18E/F · Hardpoints: 11 (2× wingtips, 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage) with a capacity of Max payload Carrier bringback payload
Single sourceHardpoints: 11 (2× wingtips, 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage) with a capacity of Max payload: 17,750 lb (8,050 kg). Carrier bringback payload: F/A-18E: 9,900 lb (4,491 kg), F/A-18F: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg) , with provisions to carry combinations of:[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
In service[source] |
| Primary users | United States Navy Royal Australian Air Force Kuwait Air Force[source] | United States Air Force Royal Saudi Air Force Israeli Air Force Republic of Korea Air Force For other users, see Operators[source] |
|---|
| Number built | ≥632 as of April 2020[source] | 435 (F-15E/I/S/K/SG)[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1995–present[source] | 1985–2017[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 1999 2001 ( Initial operating capability , IOC)[source] | 1988 30 September 1989 ( IOC )[source] |
|---|
| First flight | 29 November 1995 ( 1995-11-29 )[source] | 11 December 1986 ( 1986-12-11 )[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet[source] | McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle[source] |
|---|
| Variant | Boeing EA-18G Growler[source] | Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle[source] |
|---|
| Guns | 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan , 412 rounds[source] | 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled rotary cannon , 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition[source] |
|---|
| Internal fuel capacity | F/A-18E: 14,700 lb (6,668 kg), F/A-18F: 13,760 lb (6,241 kg)[source] | — |
|---|
| External fuel capacity | Up to 4 × 480 US gal (1,817 L) tanks, totaling 13,040 lb (5,915 kg), option for 2 x 515 US gal (1,949 L) conformal fuel tanks totaling an additional 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) on Block III[source] | — |
|---|
| Stall speed | 129 kn (148 mph, 239 km/h) power-off[source] | — |
|---|
| Wing loading | 94.0 lb/sq ft (459 kg/m 2 ) or 127.0 lb/sq ft (620 kg/m 2 ) at max takeoff weight[source] | — |
|---|
| Thrust/weight | 0.93[source] | 0.93[source] |
|---|
| Design load factor | 7.5 g[source] | — |
|---|
| Missiles | Air-to-air missiles Fighter escort: 7× AIM-120 AMRAAM and 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder or 5x AIM-120 and 4× AIM-9 or 4× AIM-174B , 3× AIM-120, and 2× AIM-9 or 4× AIM-7 Sparrow and 2× AIM-9 maximum of 2× AIM-9 and: 12× AIM-120 AMRAAM or 8× AIM-7 Sparrow Air-to-surface missiles AGM-65E/F Maverick AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER AGM-88 HARM AGM-88G AARGM-ER [being integrated] AGM-158 JASSM AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) - glide bomb AGM-84 Harpoon AGM-158C LRASM Joint Strike Missile (JSM) (to be integrated)[source] | Air-to-air missiles : 4× AIM-7 Sparrow 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or IRIS-T (S variant of the Saudi Air Force ) 8× AIM-120 AMRAAM Air-to-surface missiles : 6× AGM-65 Maverick 2× AGM-84 Harpoon 2× AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER 2x AGM-130 AGM-154 JSOW AGM-158 JASSM Joint Strike Missile (to be integrated) Taurus KEPD 350 (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks)[source] |
|---|
| Bombs | JDAM bombs (up to 10× GBU-32/35/38/54 or 4× GBU-31) Paveway series of laser-guided bombs Mk 80 series unguided bombs Mk-62/63/65 Quick Strike Naval mine[source] | Mark 82 bomb Mark 84 bomb GBU-15 GBU-10 Paveway II GBU-12 Paveway II GBU-24 Paveway III GBU-27 Paveway III GBU-28 (Bunker buster) GBU-31 or GBU-38 {8 GBU-31s or 16 GBU-38s} (JDAM) GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) B61 nuclear bomb CBU-87 or CBU-103 (CEM) CBU-89 or CBU-104 (GATOR) KGGB (integrated on South Korean Air Force F-15Ks) CBU-97 or CBU-105 (SFW) CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon BLU-107 Durandal[source] |
|---|
| Other | SUU-42A/A Flares/infrared decoy dispenser pod and chaff pod AN/ALE-50 towed decoy system pod up to 4× 480 US gal (1,800 L; 400 imp gal) drop tanks and 1× A/A42R-1 Aerial Refueling Store pod for aerial refueling. 12× ADM-141C TALD decoys AWW-13 Advanced data link pod[source] | — |
|---|
| Hardpoints | 11 (2× wingtips, 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage) with a capacity of Max payload: 17,750 lb (8,050 kg). Carrier bringback payload: F/A-18E: 9,900 lb (4,491 kg), F/A-18F: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg) , with provisions to carry combinations of:[source] | 4 wing pylons, fuselage pylons, bomb racks on CFTs with a capacity of 23,000 lb (10,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance[source] |
|---|
| Developed into | — | Boeing F-15EX Eagle II[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | — | 12,915 lb (5,858 kg) internal, 22,267 lb (10,100 kg) with CFTs, 34,162 lb (15,496 kg) with CFTs and 3× 600-gallon (2,270 L) external fuel tanks[source] |
|---|
| Airfoil | — | root: NACA 64A006.6 ; tip: NACA 64A203[source] |
|---|
| g limits | — | + 9[source] |
|---|
| Others | — | up to 3× 600 US gallons (2,300 L ) external drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time 3 x 7-round (21) APKWS under each wing[source] |
|---|
| Radar | — | Raytheon AN/APG-70 or AN/APG-82 AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod[source] |
|---|
| Targeting pods | — | AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN or Lockheed Martin Sniper XR or AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening[source] |
|---|
| Countermeasures | — | Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod Hazeltine AN/APX-76 or Raytheon AN/APX-119 Identify Friend/Foe (IFF) interrogator Magnavox AN/ALQ-128 Electronic Warfare Warning Set (EWWS) – part of Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems (TEWS) Loral AN/ALR-56 Radar warning receivers (RWR) – part of TEWS Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems ALQ-135 Internal Countermeasures System (ICS) – part of TEWS Marconi AN/ALE-45 Chaff / Flares dispenser system – part of TEWS BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) - combined electronic warfare / electronic countermeasures system[source] |
|---|
Maximum take-off; F-15E · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceMach 2.5, 1,650 mph (2,655 km/h) at high altitude Mach 1.2, 800 kn (921 mph; 1,482 km/h) at low altitude[source]
F-15E · ) with afterburner each
Single sourceF-15E · with afterburner ( or 2 × F100-PW-229 , thrust: 17,800 lb dry (
Single source2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan , 14,590 lbf (64.9 kN) thrust each dry, 23,770 lbf (105.7 kN) with afterburner ( or 2 × F100-PW-229 , thrust: 17,800 lb dry (79 kN); 29,160 lb (129.7 kN) with afterburner each)[source]