The F/A-18D is the two-seat version of the F/A-18C. Unlike the F/A-18B, the F/A-18D has flying controls only in the front cockpit and was intended as a two-seat night attack aircraft rather than as a two-seat trainer. The flight officer seated in the aft cockpit is provided with two stationary hand controls, one on each side of the seat, to operate the weapons systems. In addition, the moving map display is positioned higher. The F/A-18D is configured for the night attack role, with FLIR, TINS, raster HUD, and instrumentation and cockpit arrangements modified for use with night vision goggles.
The first 31 F/A-18Ds built featured improved avionics and featured AMRAAM and Infrared Maverick capability, but were not considered as being fully equipped for night-attack duties. The latest F/A-18D aircraft from Block 29 onward (like their single-seat F/A-18C cousins) have been equipped with full night-attack capability, with a Kaiser AV/AVQ-28 raster HUD, an AN/AAS-38 thermal imaging set, and color MFDs. The Kaiser AV/AVQ-28 raster HUD that presents the images provided by the thermal imaging navigation set. The F/A-18D 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 autonomously of an external laser source.
The prototype for the fully-capable night attack F/A-18D was created by modifying the first F/A-18D (BuNo 163434). This was flown for the first time at St Louis on May 6, 1988. The first production night attack F/A-18D (BuNo 163986, first D in Block 29) was turned over to the Navy at NATC Patuxent River, Maryland on November 1, 1989.
The primary user of the Night Attack F/A-18D is the Marine Corps. 96 examples were ordered for all-weather attack units previously operating the A-6E Intruder, plus one ex-Phantom reconnaissance unit. In addition, the F/A-18D aircraft have replaced OA-4 Skyhawks for fast-jet forward air control and have taken over some of the roles carried out by OV-10A and OV-10D Broncos.
The first Night Attack F/A-18D was delivered to VMA(AW)-121 "Green Knights" on May 11, 1990. This unit previously operated A-6 Intruders, and was redesignated VMFA(AW)-121 upon receipt of the F/A-18D. This unit took part in Operation Desert Storm, carrying out fast forward air control missions in which they sought out small, mobile targets and marked them for destruction by Harriers, Skyhawks, Intruders, Thunderbolt IIs, F-16s and other Hornets.
There is also a reconnaissance version of the two-seat F/A-18D. With the amended designation F/A-18D(RC), some 48 F/A-18D Hornets have their M61A1 cannon replaced by a pallet-mounted electro-optical suite comprising a blister-mounted IR linescan and two roll-stabilized sensor units, all of these units recording onto video tape. A datalink pod can be added to the centerline pylon for instantaneous transmission of data, but the same position can also be used for a Loral AN/UPD-8 side-looking airborne radar. The F/A-18D(RC) can be reconfigured for standard attack operations in only a few hours.
The ability to carry the Martin Marietta ATARS (Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System) centerline pod was added starting with BuNo 164649, the first aircraft in Block 36.
The two-seat F/A-18D is used by the Marine Corps as a front-line combat aircraft, but only as a trainer or test aircraft by the Navy.
Serials of F/A-18D:
163434 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163436 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163441 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163445 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163447 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163452 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163454 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163457 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-23-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163460 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163464 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163468 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163472 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163474 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163479 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163482 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163486 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-24-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163488 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163492 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163497 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163500/163501 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163507 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163510 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-25-MC Hornet (Lot 10)
163700 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163707 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163720 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-26-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163734 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-27-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163749 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-27-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163763 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163771 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163778 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-28-MC Hornet (Lot 11)
163986 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
converted to NF/A-18D in 1995.
163989 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163991 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163994 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
163997 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164001 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164005 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164009 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164011 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164014 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-29-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164017 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164019 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164022 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164024 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164026 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164028 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164032 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164035 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164038 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164040 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-30-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164043 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164046 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164049 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164051 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164053 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164056 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164058 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164061 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164064 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164068 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-31-MC Hornet (Lot 12)
164196 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164198 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164203 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164207 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164211 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164216 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164219 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-32-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164224 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164228 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164233 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164237 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164241 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164245 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164249 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-33-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164254 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164259 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164263 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164267 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164272 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164279 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet (Lot 13)
164280/164339 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
contract cancelled
164415 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet
164422 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D-34-MC Hornet
164649/164653 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164656 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164659 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164662 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164665 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164667 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 36 Hornet (Lot 14)
164670 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164672 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164674 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164677 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164679 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164683 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164685 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164688 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164690 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164692 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 37 Hornet (Lot 14)
164694 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164699 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164702 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164705 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 38 Hornet (Lot 15)
164711 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164714 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164717 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164723 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 39 Hornet (Lot 15)
164726 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164729 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164735 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 40 Hornet (Lot 15)
164738 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D 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
164866 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164868 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164870 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164872 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D 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.
164876 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164878 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164880 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164882 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 41 Hornet (Lot 16)
164884 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164886 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164888 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 42 Hornet (Lot 16)
164898 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 43 Hornet (Lot 16)
164901 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Block 43 Hornet (Lot 16)
165231/165242 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet
Contract cancelled. Last 4 were to be Ds.
165409/165416 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (Lot 20)
c/n 1430/D140, 1434/D141, 1438/D142, 1440/D143,
1444/D144, 1446/D145, 1450/D146, 1453/D147
165418 Boeing F/A-18D Hornet (Lot 20)
c/n 1461/D148
165419/165420 Boeing F/A-18D Hornet
c/n 1463/D149, 1466/D150
165421/165422 Boeing F/A-18D-52-MC Hornet
c/n 1472/D151, 1484/D152
165423 Boeing F/A-18D-5x-MC Hornet
c/n 1498/D153
165527/165532 Boeing F/A-18D-52-MC Hornet
c/n 1461/Dq48, 463/D149, 1466/Dq50, 1472/D151
165680/165687 Boeing F/A-18D-52-MC Lot 21 Hornet
Former RTAF F/A-18D-52-MC to USMC
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
