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F/A-18 Super Hornet vs. F-22 Raptor

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F/A-18 Super Hornet

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F-22

Role
Mulitrole fighterStealth air superiority fighter
Generation
4.5 generation5th generation
National Origin
United StatesUnited States
Manufacturer
BoeingLockheed Martin
Price (USD)
$70 Million$150 Million
Primary Users
US NavyUS Air Force
First Flight
19951997
Last Production Year
In Production2011
# Units Built
>600195
Status
In ServiceIn Service
Seats
1 (F-18E) / 2 (F-18F)1
Length
18 m60 ft
18 m62 ft
Wingspan
13 m44 ft
13 m44 ft
Wing Area
46 m²500 ft²
78 m²840 ft²
Height
4 m16 ft
5 m16 ft
Empty Weight
14,560 kg32,100 lbs
19,659 kg43,340 lbs
Gross Weight
21,319 kg47,000 lbs
29,411 kg64,840 lbs
MTOW
29,937 kg66,000 lbs
37,875 kg83,500 lbs
Fuel Capacity
6,668 kg14,700 lbs
8,165 kg18,000 lbs
Number of Engines
22
Engine Type
TurbofanTurbofan
Engine Manufacturer
General ElectricPratt & Whitney
Engine Model
F414-GE-400F119-PW-100
Dry Thrust
58 kN13,000 lbs
116 kN26,000 lbs
Thrust w/ Afterburner
98 kN22,000 lbf
156 kN35,000 lbf
Max Thrust
196 kN44,000 lbf
312 kN70,000 lbf
Max Speed (Mach)
Mach 1.60Mach 2.25
Top Speed
1,915 km/h1,190 mph
2,414 km/h1,500 mph
Range
2,361 km1,275 nm
2,963 km1,600 nm
Rate of Climb
254 m/s50,000 ft/min
315 m/s62,000 ft/min
Ceiling
15,240 m50,000 ft
19,812 m65,000 ft
G Limit
7 g9 g

What Are the Differences Between the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-22 Raptor

F/A-18 Super Hornet vs F-22 Raptor Size Comparison

  • At 18.90 meters, the F-22 Raptor is 0.60 meters longer than the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
  • The F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-22 Raptor have the same wingspan at 13.6 m
  • The wing area of the F-22 Raptor is 0.20 meters bigger than that of the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s 4.90 meters.

F/A-18 Super Hornet vs F-22 Raptor Price

  • The F-22 Raptor is more expensive than the F/A-18 Super Hornet, with a unit cost of approximately 150 million compared to the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s unit cost of approximately 70 million.

F/A-18 Super Hornet vs F-22 Raptor Speed

  • The F-22 Raptor has a top speed of 1,500 miles per hour, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet has a top speed of 1,190 miles per hour. Head to head, this makes the F-22 Raptor 310 miles per hour faster than the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

About the F/A-18 Super Hornet

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a direct evolution of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, is an American twin-engine, supersonic, carrier-capable multirole fighter jet. It's used primarily by the United States Navy as well as the Royal Australian Air Force and Kuwait Air Force.

Production History: The Super Hornet was initially developed by McDonnell Douglas, with its first flight in 1995. Following the merger of McDonnell Douglas with Boeing, full-rate production commenced in September 1997. The Super Hornet entered service with the United States Navy in 1999, effectively replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat by 2006. As of April 2020, over 632 units had been produced, with Boeing announcing plans to conclude production in 2025.

Design Features: The Super Hornet design stemmed from a requirement for a more capable version of the F/A-18 Hornet. It carries an internal 20mm M61A2 rotary cannon and is capable of deploying various weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. It can be equipped with up to five external fuel tanks for extended range missions and can be configured as an airborne tanker.

Operational History:

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has been integral in various military operations, showcasing its effectiveness in air-to-air combat, precision-guided night strikes, and close air support, among other roles. Its first air-kill occurred on June 18, 2017, against a Syrian Sukhoi Su-22. The Super Hornet's multirole capability has made it a valuable asset in diverse military operations.

Comparison with Similar Models:

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet vs. F-14 Tomcat:

Role and Capabilities: The F-14 primarily served as an air superiority fighter with secondary ground attack capabilities. In contrast, the Super Hornet is a true multirole aircraft, adept in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Performance and Armament: The F-14 boasted a longer range and heavier weapons load capacity. However, the Super Hornet's smaller size and versatile armament options make it more adaptable in various combat scenarios.

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet vs. F/A-18 Hornet:

Design Evolution: The Super Hornet is an enlarged and enhanced version of the original Hornet, offering increased range, payload capacity, and advanced capabilities.

Role Expansion: While maintaining the multirole capabilities of the Hornet, the Super Hornet introduces improvements like increased fuel capacity, enhanced avionics, and a greater payload, broadening its effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.

About the F-22 Raptor

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is an advanced single-seat, twin-engine, supersonic all-weather stealth fighter aircraft, designed primarily for air superiority roles. Developed for the United States Air Force (USAF), the F-22 incorporates additional capabilities including ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence.

Production History: The F-22's development originated from the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program in 1981, aimed at replacing the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Facing Soviet advancements in military aviation, the USAF emphasized stealth, supercruise (sustained supersonic flight without afterburners), and agility in their requirements. Lockheed Martin, with Boeing as a partner, was awarded the contract, and the first flight of the F-22 occurred on September 7, 1997. Initially, the USAF intended to procure 750 ATFs, but this number was reduced to 187 aircraft due to budget constraints and shifting priorities. The final F-22 was delivered in 2012.

Design Features: The F-22 Raptor is known for its stealth capabilities, achieved through advanced aerodynamic design and radar-absorbing materials. It features a sophisticated sensor suite that enhances the pilot's situational awareness, allowing them to engage targets before being detected. The aircraft is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines, enabling it to supercruise at speeds over Mach 1.5. Its armament includes an M61A2 cannon, AIM-9 Sidewinders, AIM-120 AMRAAMs, and GBU-32 JDAMs.

Operational History: The F-22 Raptor has been a key component of the USAF's Global Strike Task Force. Its operational capabilities and combat performance set a high benchmark in modern air warfare, but its development and initial service period experienced challenges. Despite these, the F-22 has become vital to the USAF's tactical air power, leveraging its stealth, performance, and advanced systems to dominate aerial combat scenarios.

Similar Fighter Jet Models:

F-22 Raptor vs. F-35 Lightning II

Stealth and Role Specialization: The F-22 is optimized for air superiority with unparalleled stealth for engaging enemy aircraft, while the F-35 is designed as a multirole fighter, with a broader emphasis on ground attack capabilities and operational versatility.

Performance and Agility: The Raptor excels in high-speed, high-maneuverability air combat, featuring advanced thrust vectoring for superior agility. The F-35, while highly capable, prioritizes stealth, sensor integration, and network-enabled operations over extreme maneuverability.

F-22 Raptor vs. Su-57 "Felon"

Advanced Stealth Capabilities: Both aircraft represent their respective countries' pinnacle of stealth technology. The F-22's stealth design focuses on all-aspect stealth. The Su-57 incorporates stealth features primarily in the front aspect, aiming to balance stealth with aerodynamics.

Technological Edge and Operational Experience: The F-22 has been operational since 2005, gaining years of technological refinement and experience. The Su-57, a newer entry into the fifth-generation fighter category, brings innovative technology and capabilities but lacks the operational pedigree of the F-22.

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Values shown may not be 100% accurate, as some metrics are averages or only represent certain production years and configurations. Engine specs are based on the best options available.

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