Boeing, Fighters Aircrafts

"The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a next-generation strike fighter with all the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any Home build. Built by the industry team of Boeing, Northrop Grumman, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon and 2,000 other suppliers, the Super Hornet embodies the newest advances in multimission capability and decades of growth potential.

Two versions of the Super Hornet are currently in production for the U.S. Navy: the single-seat E model and the two-seat F model. Both will perform a variety of missions including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defense, maritime, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker. Converting from one mission to another can be done quickly and simply by flipping a switch. More on the F18 or clic on the image " ... more

"The F/A-18 Hornet has once again demonstrated its versatility during the recent war in Kosovo. Two Marine Corps F/A-18D model Hornets-the two seat version-equipped with the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) entered combat operations May 26, 1999 filling a void in airborne manned tactical reconnaissance in the Marine Corps since the RF-4 Phantom retired from service.

The Marine Corps began taking delivery of Hornets with provisions for a reconnaissance package in February 1992. Plans call for a total purchase of 31 tactical reconnaissance conversion kits, 24 data link pods and seven squadron ground stations. Deliveries will continue through 2002. The combat-proven F/A-18 Hornet is a single- and dual-seat, twin-engine multimission tactical aircraft. It is the first tactical aircraft designed from its inception to carry out both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions." More on the F18 Hornet or clic on the image.

The EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft

"The EA-18G, currently being delivered to the U.S. Navy, will be the cornerstone of the naval Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) mission. Derived from the combat proven F/A-18F aircraft, the EA-18G incorporates advanced AEA avionics bringing transformational capability for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and non-traditional electronic attack operations.

EA-18G Capabilities
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: The EA-18G will counter enemy air defenses using both reactive and pre-emptive jamming techniques.
Stand-off and Escort Jamming: The EA-18G will be highly effective in the traditional stand-off jamming mission, but with the speed and agility of a Super Hornet, it will also be effective in the escort role.
Non-Traditional Electronic Attack: Dramatically enhanced situational awareness and uninterrupted communications will enable the EA-18G to achieve a higher degree of integration with ground operations than has been previously achievable.
Self-protect and Time-Critical Strike Support: With its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, digital data links and air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G will have self-protection capability and will also be effective for target identification and prosecution.
Growth: High commonality with the F/A-18E/F, nine available weapon stations and modern avionics enable cost-effective synergistic growth for both aircraft, setting the stage for continuous capability enhancement..

Airborne Electronic Attack Capabilities..."
... More on the The EA-18G or clic on the image.

"The F-15 Eagle has a perfect combat record of 101 victories and zero defeats. F-15s downed four Mig-29 fighters during the recent Balkan conflict and 33 of the 35 fixed-wing aircraft Iraq lost in air combat during Operation Desert Storm. During the Balkan conflict, the F-15E was the only fighter able to attack ground targets around the clock, in all weather conditions.

The E, which will be in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) inventory well into the 21st century, is the latest F-15 produced by Boeing workers in St. Louis. It is the world's leading dual-role fighter, performing air-to-ground and air-to-air missions with unmatched success. Boeing has assembled 226 F-15Es for USAF as of July 2000, and is working on additional aircraft.

The F-15E has two Pratt & Whitney F100-P&W-229 engines, each generating 29,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft can reach speeds exceeding twice the speed of sound. It can carry up to 23,000 pounds of payload, including air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack." ... More on the F15 Eagle or clic on the image.

The F-22 Raptor

"Boeing is teamed with Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. Air Force to develop the F-22 Raptor as a replacement for the F-15C. The fast, agile, stealthy F-22 will take over the air superiority role with Air Combat Command starting in 2005.

The Air Force plans to procure 339 F-22s, and production is scheduled to run through 2013. Mission The F-22's primary mission is to establish absolute control of the skies over any battlefield — a must-have in modern warfare. It provides first-look, first-shot, first-kill capability.

The F-22 is an air superiority fighter with much improved capability over current Air Force aircraft. Its stealth, supercruise ability, integrated avionics and other features will make it the most potent fighter in the world." More on the F22 Raptor or clic on the image

The AV-8B Harrier II Plus

Equipped with the combat-proven APG-65 radar system, the newest member of the AV-8 Harrier family — the Harrier II Plus — adds a multimission capability to the vertical/short takeoff and landing features that allow Harriers to operate where other fixed-wing aircraft cannot. The Harrier II was originally designed to provide responsive and effective close-air support for U.S. Marine Corps ground forces and to fly interdiction missions.

The radar-equipped Harrier II Plus can now perform not only a wider range of missions but performs them around the clock and in adverse weather. The Harrier II Plus radar also provides improved self-defense and pilot situational awareness. Both the Harrier II Plus and the night attack version are equipped with an increased-thrust version of the Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408 engine."

More on the AV-8B Harrier II Plus or clic on the image.

The T-45 Training System

"The T-45 Training System, or T45TS, is the first totally integrated training system developed for and used by the U.S. Department of the Navy. It includes the Boeing-built T-45 Goshawk aircraft, advanced flight simulators, computer-assisted instructional programs, a computerized training integration system, and a contractor logistics support package. The integration of all five system elements produces a superior pilot in less time and at lower cost than previous training systems.

The Goshawk The two-seat, single-engine T-45 Goshawk is the heart of the training system.

The aircraft has a wingspan of 30.1 feet, a length of 39.3 feet, a tail height of 13.5 feet and a takeoff gross weight of 13,636 pounds. The U.S. Navy's T-45 Goshawk is powered by a Rolls-Royce Adour F405-RR-401 engine producing 5,845 pounds of thrust. The Goshawk's design is based on the British Aerospace Hawk. However, design modifications were made to the Goshawk to make the aircraft suitable for carrier-based operations."

More on the T-45 Training System or clic on the image.

The F-4 Phantom II

It's been 40 years since the "Phabulous Phantom" first took to the air on May 27, 1958. The F-4 Phantom II aircraft, which still flies in defense of 8 nations, was retired in 1996 from U.S. military forces, ending a record-studded 38-year career. The Phantom was first used by the U.S. Navy as an interceptor but also was capable of flying as a ground-support bomber for the U.S. Marine Corps. The aircraft flew every traditional military mission: air superiority, close air support, interception, air defense suppression, long-range strike, fleet defense, attack and reconnaissance. It could fly short training missions or 4.5-hour sorties as a Wild Weasel in search of anti-aircraft defense systems. It starred in both the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm with a record of 280 air-to-air victories and the destruction of more than 200 anti-aircraft sites.The Phantom was the first multiservice aircraft, flying concurrently with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. It is the first and only aircraft ever to be flown concurrently by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.

The last F-4s in active U.S. operational service were retired in 1996. Yet by the late 1990s, having been upgraded in a number of air forces, more than 1,000 Phantoms still flew worldwide. More on The F-4 Phantom II or clic on the image