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The F/A-18 Hornet (CF-18, F-18) is a fighter jet that is made by Boeing, and was originally manufactured by the McDonnell-Douglas Company. It first flew in 1978 and was introduced in 1983. Its main user is the United States Navy. It can take off from aircraft carriers because of its special design. The F/A-18 can attack land and air targets. Any aircraft which can do this is called "multi-role". The Hornet is also flown by the Blue Angels.
The F/A-18 is used by many countries, including the United States Navy
United States
The United States navy is the biggest user of the hornet. The hornet is currently only used by the United States Marine Corps, but until 2019 the U.S. Navy also had them.
The USMC currently has 143 F/A-18 hornets.
Blue Angels
The Blue Angels are the aerobatic team of the USMC. They use the F/A-18. Before the F/A-18 existed, they used the A-4 Skyhawk.
Australia
The Royal Australian Air force (RAAF) bought 57 F/A-18A and 18 F/A-18B (the b was used for training) in 1981 to replace the old Mirage III. The difference between the RAAF hornet and the US hornet is that the RAAF removed the carrier Capabilities, because Australia doesn't have any aircraft carriers big enough to fit the plane.
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The hornet can carry a lot of bombs, missiles, rockets and guns. It can also carry pods, pods give the aircraft more options, the Litening targeting pod,for example, lets the pilot see the ground and guide bombs to the target.
Bombs
B81 and B83 nuclear bombs
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
Paveway laser guided bombs (the bombs are guided by the targeting pod)
Mk80 bombs general purpose
CBU100 cluster bomb
Rockets
2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 rockets
5 in (127.0 mm) Zuni rockets
Missiles
Air to Air
Aim-120 AMRAAM
Aim-132 ASRAAM
Iris-T
Aim-7 Sparrow
Air to Ground
AGM-65 Maverick
AGM-88 HARM
AGM-164 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
Taurus Cruise Missile
Anti Ship
AGM-84 Harpoon
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MiG-35 - Simulacrum of the F/A-18 Hornet
- "Russia's cutting-edge MiG-35 fighter jet: aerobatic stunts back in fashion". TASS. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2018-02-07. - on TASS Official Infographic(in English)
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