Aircraft Statistics
Block III Crew: F/A-18E: 1 (pilot), F/A-18F: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer) Length: 18.31 m Wingspan: 13.62 m Height: 4.88 m Wing area: 500 sq ft (46.5 m2) Empty weight: 32,081 lb (14,552 kg) Gross weight: 47,000 lb (21,320 kg) (equipped as fighter) Max takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,937 kg) Internal fuel capacity: F/A-18E: 14,700 lb (6,667 kg), F/A-18F: 13,760 lb (6,241 kg) External fuel capacity: Up to 4 × 480 gal (1,800 L) tanks, totaling 13,040 lb (5,914 kg) Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans, 13,000 lbf (58 kN) thrust each dry, 22,000 lbf (98 kN) with afterburner Maximum speed: 1,030 kn (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m) Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 Range: 1,275 nmi (1,458 mi, 2,346 km) with armament of two short range AAMs Combat range: 390 nmi (449 mi, 722 km) combat radius for interdiction with 4 x 1,000 pounds (450 kg) bombs and 2x short range AAMs Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (3,330 km) Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m) + Rate of climb: 44,882 ft/min (228 m/s) Thrust/weight: 0.93 Design load factor: 7.6 g |
The mainstay fighter jet of the Xuande-Xiphoian Navy, the Xuande-Xiphoian built FA-18X Cobalt Hornet is an adaptation of the internationally used FA-18 Super Hornet. Xuande-Xiphoi currently utilises Block II and Block III variant, with the fleet being rapidly upgraded to the newest Block III standard.
The Cobalt Hornet was first delivered to the X.X. Navy in 1984. The F/A-18 is a twin engine, midwing, multimission tactical aircraft. It is highly manoeuvrable, due to its good thrust-to-weight ratio, digital fly-by-wire control system, and leading-edge extensions, which allow the Hornet to remain controllable at high angles of attack. The trapezoidal wing has a 20-degree sweepback on the leading edge and a straight trailing edge. The wing has full-span, leading-edge flaps and the trailing edge has single-slotted flaps and ailerons over the entire span. The updated Cobalt Hornet's radar cross-section was reduced greatly from some aspects, mainly the front and rear. The design of the engine inlets reduces the aircraft's frontal radar cross-section. The alignment of the leading edges of the engine inlets is designed to scatter radiation to the sides. Fixed fanlike reflecting structures in the inlet tunnel divert radar energy away from the rotating fan blades. The Cobalt Hornet also makes considerable use of panel joint serration and edge alignment. Considerable attention has been paid to the removal or filling of unnecessary surface join gaps and resonant cavities. Where the F/A-18A-D used grilles to cover various accessory exhaust and inlet ducts, the F/A-18XE/XF uses perforated panels that appear opaque to radar waves at the frequencies used. Careful attention has been paid to the alignment of many panel boundaries and edges, to direct reflected waves away from the aircraft in uniformly narrow angles. The most recent Block III upgrade installs conformal wing-top fuel tanks, an enclosed weapons pod, and radar signature enhancements. Other enhancements include a high-resolution cockpit display, internal infrared search and track (IRST) system, and enhanced engines. Upgraded cockpits are now a standard feature for the Cobalt Hornet. Avionics aboard the FA-18X are highly advanced, including for the aviatior's use an up-front touchscreen control display; a large multipurpose color liquid-crystal display; and a more useful fuel display. The Super Hornet has a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire system, as well as a digital flight-control system that detects and corrects for battle damage. All aircraft are equipped with a minimum standard of an AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar (AESA). This radar is capable of executing simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks, and providing higher quality high-resolution ground mapping at long standoff ranges. The AESA radar can also detect smaller targets, such as inbound missiles and can track air targets beyond the range of the aircraft's air-to-air missiles. The AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR (Advanced Targeting Forward Looking InfraRed), is the main electro-optical sensor and laser designator pod for the Block II variant, with Block III variants now being installed with a further improved variant with enhanced network capability. The communications equipment aboard the Cobalt Hornet consist of an AN/ARC-210 VHF/UHF radio and a MIDS-JTRS low volume terminal for HAVE QUICK, SINCGARS, JTRS, and Link 16 connectivity. The defensive countermeasures of Block I aircraft includes the AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver, the AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser, the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy and the AN/ALQ-214 Integrated Defensive Countermeasures (IDECM) system. Interior and exterior lighting on the Block II was changed to allow the use of night vision devices. The older ALE-50 decoys are being replaced by ALE-55 towed decoys, which can transmit jamming signals based on data received from the IDECM. The improved AN/ALQ-214 jammer is installed aboard all aircraft. Additionally, aircrew are issued with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS). Finally, the Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) is a high-resolution, digital tactical aerial reconnaissance system that features advanced day/night and all-weather capability. Due to airframe improvements over time, the aircraft features a reduced radar cross section. The design of the engine inlets reduces the aircraft's frontal radar cross-section. The alignment of the leading edges of the engine inlets is designed to scatter radiation to the sides. Fixed fanlike reflecting structures in the inlet tunnel divert radar energy away from the rotating fan blades. |