F / A-18 Combat Attack Machine

Development section

research background

in the early 1970s, "male cat" The project is difficult to develop, and the cost is increasing, so the US Navy launches the VFAX (Naval Fighter Attack Experimental, the Shipborne Battle Attack Machine) project. VFAX is envisioned into a multi-purpose fighter capable of replacing F-4 fighters, A-4 attack, A-7 attacking machines, Grumman also submitted a simplified form of F-14 fighter "male cat" (ie F-14X ) Participate in bidding, but May 10, 1974, the Military Commission announced that no "male cat" is a simplified shape, and Vfax must be a new aircraft.

In August 1974, the US Congress considers that the budget at the time is unable to take another major R & D project, inform the US Navy's VFAX project will be canceled. The US Congress will transfer funds originally used for VFAX to a new project NACF (Navy Air Combat Fighter) on the NAVY Air Combat Fighter, and instructs the Navy to pay close attention to the LWF (Lightweight Fighter) / ACF (Aerial Combat Fighter, the US Air Force). Air Combat Fighter) The competition result of the project and the two aircraft participating in the bidding are set to NACF candidate models. ACF has two prototypes at the time, which are YF-16 and YF-17, respectively, according to the original plan of NACF, will be YF-16 carrier type, but most US Navy officers believe that F-14 can meet all needs Therefore, no VFAX does not require NACF.

In September 1974, under heavy resistance, the US Navy continued to advance the NACF project and promulgated a demand. While official demand books, the US Navy announced that they will choose a single contractor to develop NACF. Nosopp believes that YF-17 will be a strong competitor of NACF, because the US Navy is traditionally tends to increase security, and YF-17 has a greater potential to develop multi-purpose fighters equipped with radar. But Nosluo did not develop the experience of the carrier, so they accepted the proposal of the McDee, and cooperated to develop YF-17 shipping models for NACF projects.

January 13, 1975, the YF-17, which is designed by Nosrop, US Nosolp, defeated the YF-16 of the opponent universal power in the ACF project, because YF-16 speed ratio YF-17 Slightly fast, and its installed F-100 engine has been adopted by F-15, which reduces maintenance cost, YF-16 is the F-16 fighter. After the US Air Force ACF contract, Nosrop fully developed the YF-17 carrier type.

Construction Procedures

On May 2, 1975, the US Navy announced that the Nosolp / McDark team won, the US Navy believes that YF-17 double layout is more suitable for sea flight, In addition, its multi-purpose development has a greater potential, and after redesigned YF-17 is renamed to F-18. According to the initial plan, Nosrop / McDe will develop three similar models, single-seat F-18 replace the F-4 air combat mission, single-seat A-18 replaces the A-7 attack task, There is a two-seat TF-18 syllable trainer. The F-18 and A-18 use the same fuselage and engine, but the avionics and rinsers are different, and the double-seat TF-18A retains all the combat capabilities and weapons of the F-18A, but reduces internal carrier air volume. Finally, the F-18 and A-18 finally unified into a model, in the press release of the Ministry of Defense, and the nickname "Bumblebee" is known in the press release of the Ministry of Defense. The number of double coaches is changed to TF / A-18A, and later become F-18B. Although there is no order, Nosolp continues to develop F / A-18L land-based type, because it does not need to be shipped, the model is much easier than the carrier, and better performance.

In November 1975, the US Navy signed a development contract for the F404 turntile engine. On January 22, 1976, 9 single seats were ordered to Mai Tao and 2 double-scale research and development ( FSD) Aircraft, July 1978 FSD prototypes first fly. The US Navy borrowed the second YF-17 in the Pacific Missile Test Center, the Pacific Missile Test Center, Maryland, Maryland Par Turnson River Naval Test Center, and the California China Lake Navy Weapons Center.

September 13, 1978, the first FSD F-18a offline in the San Louis factory. On November 8th, the type was first fly in St. Louis Llan Airport. When TVF, Jack E. Clins evaluated prototype machine easily manipulated and very stable. In January 1979, most test flights were moved to the Maryland Par Turnson River Naval Test Flight Center, and 9 F-18A and 2 TF-18A double-seat FSDs were put into test flight. The F-18A FSD aircraft has made a total of 9, and the third FSD (Buno 160777) on October 30, 1979 began to carry out the shipping qualification test flight on the CV-66 US flight. When the shipping qualification test flight is carried out, the US Navy decided to divide the "zipper" into two models of the fighter and attack machine. This type of performance is powerful enough to take a double task, and put the original decision F-18 VF (Ship " A fighter plane) Squadron and the A-18 VA (Shipborne Attack Machine) squadron unified into a VFA (Shipborne Battle Attack Machine) Squadron.

Between 1979 and 1981, the Congress began to pay attention to this due to rising R & D costs. The US Navy / Marine Corps originally announced the number of orders of 780-1366, and finally cut to 1157, and the F-18 price as a low-cost lightweight fighter approximated the Grumman F-14 fighter.

April 1980, the first production type "Bumblebee" first fly. The weird prefix "F / A" is officially adopted in the announcement of the Defense Ministry of Defense in April 1, 1984, from this F-18, starting to be called F / A-18, and in the documentation of the McDe, f- 18. F / A-18A has 9 types such as YF / A-18A / B, F / A-18A, RF / A-18A, F / A-18B, F / A-18C, and F / A-18D, Produced 1137, 150 of which were two coaches, 112 were reconnaissance, export Canada's number CF / A-18A, Australia's F / A-18A / B, Spain's number EF / A-18 There is also a multi-purpose shore base type for exit is F / A-18L type.

Service History

USA

US Navy, US Navy Marine Corps, NASA (NASA), a total of 1366, including F / A- 18A, RF / A-18A, F / A-18B, F / A-18C, and F / A-18D, etc. In the Gulf War, F / A-18 is the main combat aircraft of the American fleet.

Australian Royal Air Force

Australia's first order of 57 single seats and 18 double types, also known as AF / A-18A and AF / A-18B, "A" represents Australia, this is not the standard number of the US Department of Defense. On May 16, 1990, Asta delivered the last "Bumblebee".

Swiss Air Force

Switzerland maintains neutrality in 1815, and requires powerful military power to maintain this policy. In order to choose a new generation of fighters, the Swiss government has examined Dasako "Phantom" 2000, Israeli Aircraft Industry Company "Lion", Nosolp F-20 and Saab Jas-39 "Eagle Lion", but the above planes can meet Switzerland Requirements. April 1988 - April, the Swiss government has conducted a contrast of the General Dynamic F-16 fighter and the mast f / A-18. In October 1988, the Swiss government chose the "Hornet" as the next-generation fighter of the Swiss Air Force, which plans to receive 34 installation F404-GE-402 engines since 1993. These aircraft will be equipped with 3 Squadron, replacing "Phantom" IIIS and the "Tiger" "Tiger" imported in the early 1980s.

Finnish Air Force

May 16, 1992, Finland announced the purchase of F / A-18C / D to replace the Finnish Air Force's first-line fighter, including two Saab J-35 " Dragon and a Mi-21 Bisquecan. F / A-18C / D eventually won bidding.

June 5, 1992, the Finnish government signed a purchase contract of 64 aircraft, the first batch of 7 F / A-18D manufactured by McDe, the remaining 57 F / A-18C was made from Euro Vii's Finland Walmert Aviation Industry (now renamed Finnish Aviation Technology Co., Ltd.) is assembled using Mai Tao components.

Malaysia Royal Air Force

After July 1, 1993, after a long debate, Malaysia's National Defense Minister confirmed that the Malaysian Royal Air Force purchased MiG-29 and F / A- 18. On December 9, 1993, Malaysia signed a purchase contract for 8 F / A-18D procurement contracts.