How the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Became the Navy’s Ultimate Workhorse The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet has been the mainstay of tactical U.S. naval aviation since its debut in 1984.

During the Cold War, the initial Block I “Hornet” jet was conceptualized. Manufacturers McDonnell Douglas and Northrop Grumman constructed the F/A-18 platform to feature enhanced avionics ...