The Navy's F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Can't Be Messed With

What You Need to Know: The F/A-18 Hornet, introduced in 1983, has been a versatile backbone of U.S. naval aviation, excelling in air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. Its combat record began in 1986 with operations in Libya and expanded significantly during Operation Desert Storm, where it demonstrated its reliability by destroying two Iraqi MiG-21s on the war's first day.

-The F/A-18 Super Hornet, its updated variant, has primarily served in air-to-ground roles in conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan.

-Notable air-to-air victories include shooting down a Syrian Su-22 in 2017 and intercepting Houthi drones and missiles in 2023, underscoring its ongoing relevance in modern warfare.

F-18 Hornet Combat Record, Explained 

The F/A-18 has been the cornerstone of U.S. naval aviation for a generation. The multi-role, all-weather fourth-generation fighter is renowned as a jack of all trades, capable of serving in air-to-air or air-to-ground roles. The U.S. has used their F/A-18s accordingly, deploying the airframe in conflicts around the world ever since the jet’s introduction in 1983.  

Granted, the opportunities for American aircraft to engage in air-to-air combat, since the conclusion of the Vietnam War, have been exceedingly limited; so, the F/A-18 does not have the air-to-air record one might imagine from a preeminent fighter after multiple decades of service. But the F/A-18 has been used regularly and has the record to show for it. 

Let’s take a closer look. 

Cutting Teeth 

The F/A-18’s first combat experience was in 1986 when the airframe was deployed from the USS Coral Sea to conduct Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions against Libya in support of Operation Prairie Fire and Operation El Dorado Canyon. The operations were relatively limited, however; the F/A-18 would see more extensive action five years later, during 1991’s Operation Desert Storm. 

During Desert Storm, the Navy and Marine Corps both relied on the F/A-18. Notably, during the very first day of the war, two F/A-18 pilots were credited with shooting down two Iraqi MiG-21s. The engagement took less than one minute, ending with the deployment of AIM-7 and AIM-9 missiles. The relatively low-friction victory can be owed to the fact that the MiG-21 was a Cold War relic that had no business engaging with then-cutting-edge American fighters.  

In all, Desert Storm allowed the F/A-18 to prove itself as a reliable, resilient, and versatile combat aircraft.  

Into the 21st Century 

The original F/A-18 “Hornet” was gradually phased out for the updated “Super Hornet,” which has also seen plenty of combat action. The 21st century has, unfortunately, been an active time for American military operations, albeit with limited air-to-air engagement. The F/A-18 has seen continuous use, including in operations over Iraq and Afghanistan, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, respectively.  

During the 21st-century wars, the F/A-18 has mostly been used as a bomb truck. Although, in 2017 the F/A-18 did record an air-to-air kill, the first by any American pilot since 1999, the first by any Navy pilot since 1991, and just the third for any F/A-18. Again, the kill was of an outdated and ill-matched Cold War aircraft, a Syrian Su-22. 

The Su-22 was believed to have bombed a U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) position. The Su-22 was issued several warnings but did not comply; a nearby F/A-18 pilot independently chose to shoot down the Su-22, landing a successful strike with an AIM-120 AMRAAM, after missing with an AIM-9X Sidewinder.  

In 2023, the F/A-18 was used to shoot down a variety of Houthi weapons, including twelve attack drones, three anti-ship missiles, and two ground-attack cruise missiles, in an incident that speaks to the nature of contemporary warfare.  

About the Author: 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.     

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