Following the delivery of 371 F/A-18As in production blocks 4 to 22, manufacture turned to the F/A-18C version, which was introduced beginning with Block 23.
The differences between the F/A-18A and C were entirely internal. The F/A-18C featured a Martin-Baker NACES (Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat), an improved mission computer, an airborne self-protection jammer, and a flight incident recording and monitoring system. The F/A-18C is compatible with carriage of the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, and can carry the AGM-65F infrared Maverick and the AGM-84 Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.
The first F/A-18C (BuNo 163427) was flown on September 3, 1987. Production F/A-18Cs were initially powered by the General Electric F404-GE-400, the same engine which powered the F/A-18A.
The latest F/A-18C aircraft from FY 1988 onward have been equipped to full night-attack standard, with a Kaiser AV/AVQ-28 raster HUD that presents the images provided by the thermal imaging navigation set. The F/A-18C Night Attack Hornet has a pod-mounted Hughes AN/AAR-50 thermal imaging navigation set, a Loral AN/AAS-38 Nite Hawk FLIR targeting pod, and GEC Cat's Eyes pilot's night vision goggles. The Night Attack Hornet also features two Kaiser 5in x 5in color multi-function displays (these were monochrome in previous Hornets) and a Smiths Srs 2100 color digital moving map navigation display. From January 1993 onwards, the AAS-38 pod added a laser target designator/ranger subsystem, allowing Hornets to deliver precision laser-guided weapons without requiring an external laser source.
The first prototype Night Attack Hornet flew on May 6, 1988, and production deliveries began on November 1, 1989 with F/A-18C BuNo 163985, the first aircraft in Block 29. Squadron deliveries began on November 18, 1989, with 163992 going to VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" at NAS Lemoore, California. The first Night Attack Hornet was delivered to the Marines on August 8, 1991, when VMFA-312 "Checkerboards".
Beginning in January 1991, with Block 36, the F/A-18C switched to the General Electric F404-GE-402 EPE (Enhanced Performance Engine) The EPE engine generates approximately 17,600 lb.s.t., as compared to only 16,000 lb.s.t. for the earlier -400 series.
The AN/APG-65 radar of the Hornet has now been superseded by the more capable AN/APG-73. This radar has greater speed and memory than the AN/APG-65 now in use. It has an changed bandwidth, increased internal operating rates of the receiver/exciter, an increased processing speed in the radar signal processor, new radar data processing hardware to increase the throughput speed and an expanded memory. There is an upgraded power supply. The first APG-73-equipped F/A-18 flew for the first time on April 15, 1992, and the first APG-73-equipped Hornets were delivered on May 25-26, 1994. They went to VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" and VFA-147 "Argonauts" at NAS Lemoore, California. This radar became the standard fit in all new production F/A-18C/D fighters in the US Navy and US Marine Corps, and was installed in those Hornets ordered by Finland, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
Aircraft built from 1993 onwards have improved defensive systems. Their AN/ALE-39 chaff dispensers were replaced by AN/ALE-47s and their AN/ALR-67 radar warning receivers were upgraded.
On August 1, 1997, the McDonnell Douglas corporation merged with Boeing. Manufacture of the Hornet continued, but under the Boeing name.
Production of the F/A-18C for the US Navy ended in 1999. It currently equips all but one of the active duty US Navy VFA squadrons. The F/A-18C currently carries the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the AGM-84E SLAM and the infrared-imaging AGM-65 Maverick. The AGM-154 joint stand-off Weapon was introduced in 1997, and the AGM-84H SLAM-ER was introduced in 1999. Late-model F/A-18Cs feature a FLIR pod, a raster heads-up display, night vission goggle compatibility, and a digital color moving map display. The fleet of F/A-18Cs is being upgraded with a tactical FLIR/laser designator pod, ARC-210 radios, GPS, and a cockpit video recorder. Satellite communication capability and the ability to carry the Block 6 version of the HARM missile.
Specification of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet:
Engines: Two General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans, each rated at 10,600 lb.s.t. dry and 15,800 lb.s.t. with afterburning. Later versions of the F/A-18C are powered by the F404-GE-402 turbofan, rated at 17,700 lb.s.t with afterburning. Performance: (-400 engine) Maximum speed Mach 1.8 (1190 mph) at 40,000 feet with AAMs on wingtip and fuselage stations. Combat radius 480 miles in air-to-air mission, 735 miles with three 330 US gallon drop tanks. Weights: 23,050 pounds empty, 36,710 pounds loaded (air-to-air), 49,224 pounds loaded (ground attack), 56,000 pounds maximum takeoff. Dimensions: maximum wingspan 37 feet 6 inches, length 56 feet 0 inches, height 15 feet 4 inches, wing area 400 square feet. Fuel: 1670 US gallons internal. A total of three external 330 US gallon drop tanks can be carried, raising total fuel to 2660 US gallons. Armament: One 20-mm M61A1 cannon and up to 17,000 pounds of ordnance or fuel distributed on nine stations.
Serials of F/A-18C:
163427/163433 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163435 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163437/163440 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163442/163444 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163446 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163448/163451 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163453 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163455/163456 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163458/163459 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163461/163463 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163465/163467 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163469/163471 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163473 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163475/163478 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163480/163481 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163483/163485 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163487 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163489/163491 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163493/163496 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163498/163499 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163502/163506 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163508/163509 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163699 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163701/163706 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163708/163719 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163721/163726 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163727/163733 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-27-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163735/163748 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-27-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163750/163754 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-27-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163755/163762 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163764/163770 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163772/163777 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163779/163782 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163985 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163987/163988 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163990 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163992/163993 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163995/163996 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163998/164000 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164002/164004 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164006/164008 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164010 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164012/164013 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164015/164016 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164018 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164020/164021 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164023 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164025 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164027 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164029/164031 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164033/164034 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164036/164037 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164039 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164041/164042 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164044/164045 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164047/164048 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164050 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164052 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164054/164055 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164057 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164059/164060 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164062/164063 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164065/164067 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164197 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164199/164202 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164204/164206 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164208/164210 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164212/164215 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164217/164218 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164220/164223 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164225/164227 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164229/164232 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164234/164236 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164238/164240 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164242/164244 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164246/164248 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164250/164253 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164255/164258 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164260/164262 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164264/164266 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164268/164271 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164273/164278 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164280/164339 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
contract cancelled
164411/164414 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet
164416/164421 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C-34-MC Hornet
164627/164648 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 35 Hornet (Lot 14)
164654/164655 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164657/164658 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164660/164661 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164663/164664 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164666 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164668/164669 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164671 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164673 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164675/164676 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164678 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164680/164682 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164684 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164686/164687 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164689 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164691 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164693 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164695/164698 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164700/164701 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164703/164704 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164706/164708 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164709/164710 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164712/164713 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164715/164716 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164718/164722 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164724 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164725/164725 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164727/164728 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164730/164734 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164736/164737 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164739/164740 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 40 Hornet
164741/164758 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
contract cancelled
164865 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164867 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164869 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164871 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164873 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164874 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
This aircraft may be an F/A-18C, not a D.
164875 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164877 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164879 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164881 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164883 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164885 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164887 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164889/164897 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164899/164900 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 43 Hornet (Lot 16)
164902/164912 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 43 Hornet (Lot 16)
165171/165182 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 47 Hornet (Lot 18)
c/n 1287/C396, 1288/C397, 1290/C398, 1292/C399,
1295/C400, 1297/C401, 1299/C402, 1300/C403,
1301/C404, 1302/C405, 1304/C406, 1305/C407.
165183/165194 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 48 Hornet (Lot 18)
c/n 1309/C408, 1310/C409, 1312/C410, 1318/C411,
1321/C412, 1323/C413, 1326/C414, 1328/C415,
1331/C416, 1333/C417, 1334/C418, 1338/C419
165195/165206 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 49 Hornet (Lot 18)
c/n 1340/C420, 1342/C421, 1346/C422,
1348/C423, 1350/C424, 1353/C425, 1356/C426,
1358/C427, 1360/C428, 1362/C429, 1364/C430,
1367/C431.
165207/165218 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 50 Hornet (Lot 19)
c/n 1376/C432, 1278/C433, 1380/C434, 1382/C435,
1384/C436, 1386/C437, 1388/C438, 1390/C439,
1392/C440, 1394/C441, 1396/C442, 1398/C443.
165219/165230 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Block 51 Hornet (Lot 19)
c/n 1400/C444, 1403/C445, 1404/C446, 1406/C447,
1408/C448, 1410/C449, 1411/C450, 1413/C451,
1414/C452, 1415/C453, 1417/C454, 1418/C455.
165231/165242 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
Contract cancelled. Last 4 were to be Ds.
165399/165408 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet (Lot 20)
c/n 1420/C456, 1422/C457, 1424/C458, 1426/C459,
1428/C460, 1432/C461, 1433/D462, 1442/C463,
1448/C464, 1452/C465
165417 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet (Lot 20)
c/n 1457/C466
165526 Boeing F/A-18C-52-MC Hornet
Sources:
-
Hornet, Robert F. Dorr, World Air Power Journal, Spring 1990, p. 38.
-
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J. Francillon,
Naval Institute Press, 1990.
-
Vespidae Varius--Recent Variations in the Hornet Family, Paul
Jackson, Air International, December 1993, p. 301
- Air Power Analysis--Aircraft of the US Navy, World Air Power Journal, Volume 37, 1999
