McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

The Block II package aircraft offered to the RAAF include installed engines and six spares, APG-79 AESA radars, Link 16 connectivity, LAU-127 guided missile launchers, AN/ALE-55 fiber optic towed decoys and other equipment.

The Government has also sought US export approval for Boeing EA-18G Growlers.

On 27 February 2009, Fitzgibbon announced that 12 of the 24 Super Hornets would be wired on the production line for future modification as EA-18Gs.

The additional wiring would cost A$35 million. The final decision on conversion to EA-18Gs, at a cost of A$300 million, would be made in 2012.

The first RAAF Super Hornet was completed in 2009 and first flew from Boeing's factory in St. Louis, Missouri on 21 July 2009.

RAAF pilots and air combat officers began training in the USA in 2009, with No. 1 Squadron planned to become fully operational with the F/A-18F in 2010. The RAAF's first five Super Hornets arrived at their home base, RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, on 26 March 2010.

These initial aircraft were joined by six more aircraft on 7 July 2010.[86] With the arrival of another four aircraft in December 2010, the first RAAF F/A-18F squadron was declared operational on 9 December 2010.

The RAAF may need to buy additional Super Hornets to fill the gap in its air defense because of F-35 development delays.

Operators

Royal Australian Air Force

No. 1 Squadron RAAF

No. 6 Squadron RAAF

No. 6 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force


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United States Navy

Pacific Fleet

VFA-2 "Bounty Hunters" (F/A-18F)

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CVN 72

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VFA-14 "Tophatters" (F/A-18E)

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With the Royal Australian Navy Adelaide (Oliver Hazard Perry) class frigateHMAS) Newcastle (FFG 06) underway in the background, two US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, assigned to the "Tophatters" of Strike Fighter Squadron Fourteen (VFA-14), prepare to launch from the flight deck of the USN aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group was on a regularly scheduled deployment participating in Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf area

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VFA-22 "Fighting Redcocks" (F/A-18F)

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VFA-27 "Royal Maces" (F/A-18E)

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VFA-41 "Black Aces" (F/A-18F)

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VFA-86 "Sidewinders" (F/A-18E)

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