Top 10 Iconic RAAF Aircraft – 10: F/A-18A/B Hornet

They were an integral part of Australia’s air combat capability, operated by the RAAF since replacing the Mirage III, starting in 1985.

Based at RAAF Bases Williamtown, Edinburgh and Tindal, the F/A-18A/B Hornets were operated by:

• Number 3 Squadron. RAAF Base Williamtown;
• Number 75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal; and
• Number 77 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown;
• 2 Operational Conversion, RAAF Base Williamtown; and,
• Aircraft Research and Development Units (ARDU)(2 aircraft), RAAF Edinburgh.

RAAF’s Hornets have participated in a range of exercises including Exercise Bersama Lima and Exercise Bersama Shield in Malaysia, Exercise Red Flag in Alaska and Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory.

The fleet underwent major upgrades and modifications over the years, to ensure their capability kept up with technological advances.

RAAF’s F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets are gradually being be replaced with 72 advanced F-35A Lightning II aircraft, since 2018.

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About the F/A-18A and F/A-18B

The Hornet was developed for the US Navy and Marine Corps, and has been a very successful aircraft.

It is also used by Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.

The first four RAAF Hornets were built by McDonnell Douglass in the US and were initially used in the US for training  and trial purposes.

The F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets can undertake:

• air interception;
• air combat;
• close air support of ground troops; and,
• interception of enemy supply lines, including shipping.

The Hornet is capable of air-to-air refuelling from the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

RAAF’s Hornets first combat deployment was to Iraq, flying patrols, assisting ground forces and close-air-support missions.

25 retired Hornets, ancillary equipment and spares have been sold to Canada.

Eight aircraft will be held in Australia for use in historical settings.

The remaining aircraft have been offered for sale by the Australian Government with interest received from US company Air USA, which provides air-combat training to the US government.