Credit
U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Kevin T. Murray Jr. · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
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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 | Shenyang J-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Carrier-based multirole fighter[source] | — |
| National origin | United States[source] | People's Republic of China[source] |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas (1995–1997) Boeing Defense, Space & Security (1997–present)[source] | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation[source] |
| Status | In service[source] | In service[source] |
60 ft 1.25 in (18.31 m)[source]
Length
Single source21.9 m (71 ft 10 in)[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; Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Max takeoff weight
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; Maximum speed
Single source2,120 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,140 kn)[source]
F/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; Ferry range
Single sourceRange
Single source3,000 km (1,900 mi, 1,600 nmi)
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/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]
2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans with afterburner
Single source2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans , 135 kN (30,000 lbf) with afterburner[source]
F/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.
| Primary users | United States Navy Royal Australian Air Force Kuwait Air Force[source] | — |
|---|
| Number built | ≥632 as of April 2020[source] | ~ 470 - ~ 500 (As of 2026 )[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1995–present[source] | 2017–present[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 1999 2001 ( Initial operating capability , IOC)[source] | 2015–16[source] |
|---|
| First flight | 29 November 1995 ( 1995-11-29 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Developed from | McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet[source] | Shenyang J-11 Su-30MKK[source] |
|---|
| Variant | Boeing EA-18G Growler[source] | — |
|---|
| Guns | 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A2 Vulcan , 412 rounds[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] | — |
|---|
| 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] | — |
|---|
| 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] | — |
|---|
| 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] | Munitions on 12 external hardpoints, including:[source] |
|---|
| Role | — | Multirole strike fighter[source] |
|---|
| Primary user | — | People's Liberation Army Air Force[source] |
|---|
| g limits | — | +9[source] |
|---|
4,000 km (2,500 mi, 2,200 nmi)[source]