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Following the delivery of 371 F/A-18As in production blocks 4 to 22, manufacture turned to the F/A-18C version. The F/A-18C is the current production model of the single-seat Hornet, and was introduced beginning with Block 23.
The differences between the F/A-18A and C were entirely internal. The F/A-18C featured a Martin-Baker NACES (Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat), an improved mission computer, an airborne self-protection jammer, and a flight incident recording and monitoring system. The F/A-18C is compatible with carriage of the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, and can carry the AGM-65F infrared Maverick and the AGM-84 Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.
The first F/A-18C was flown on September 3, 1987. Production F/A-18Cs were initially powered by the General Electric F404-GE-400, the same engine which powered the F/A-18A.
The latest F/A-18C aircraft from FY 1988 onward have been equipped to full night-attack standard, with a Kaiser AV/AVQ-28 raster HUD that presents the images provided by the thermal imaging navigation set. The F/A-18C 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 first prototype Night Attack Hornet flew on May 6, 1988, and production deliveries began on November 1, 1989 with F/A-18C BuNo 163985, the first aircraft in Block 29. Squadron deliveries began on November 18, 1989, with 163992 going to VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" at NAS Lemoore, California. The first Night Attack Hornet was delivered to the Marines on August 8, 1991, when VMFA-312 "Checkerboards".
Beginning in January 1991, with Block 36, the F/A-18C switched to the General Electric F404-GE-402 EPE (Enhanced Performance Engine) The EPE engine generates approximately 17,600 lb.s.t., as compared to only 16,000 lb.s.t. for the earlier -400 series.
The AN/APG-65 radar of the Hornet has now been superseded by the more capable AN/APG-73. This radar has greater speed and memory than the AN/APG-65 now in use. It has an changed bandwidth, increased internal operating rates of the receiver/exciter, an increased processing speed in the radar signal processor, new radar data processing hardware to increase the throughput speed and an expanded memory. There is an upgraded power supply. The first APG-73-equipped F/A-18 flew for the first time on April 15, 1992, and the first APG-73-equipped Hornets were delivered on May 25-26, 1994. They went to VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds" and VFA-147 "Argonauts" at NAS Lemoore, California. This radar is to be the standard fit in all new production F/A-18C/D fighters in the US Navy and US Marine Corps, and will be installed in those Hornets ordered by Finland, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
Aircraft built from 1993 onwards have improved defensive systems. Their AN/ALE-39 chaff dispensers were replaced by AN/ALE-47s and their AN/ALR-67 radar warning receivers were upgraded.
Specification of McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet:
Engines:Two General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans, each rated at 10,600 lb.s.t. dry and 15,800 lb.s.t. with afterburning. Later versions of the F/A-18C are powered by the F404-GE-402 turbofan, rated at 17,700 lb.s.t with afterburning.
Performance:
(-400 engine) Maximum speed Mach 1.8 (1190 mph) at 40,000 feet with AAMs on wingtip and fuselage stations. Combat radius 480 miles in air-to-air mission, 735 miles with three 330 US gallon drop tanks.
Weights:
23,050 pounds empty, 36,710 pounds loaded (air-to-air), 49,224 pounds loaded (ground attack), 56,000 pounds maximum takeoff. Dimensions: maximum wingspan 37 feet 6 inches, length 56 feet 0 inches, height 15 feet 4 inches, wing area 400 square feet.
Fuel:
1670 US gallons internal. A total of three external 330 US gallon drop tanks can be carried, raising total fuel to 2660 US gallons.
Armament:
One 20-mm M61A1 cannon and up to 17,000 pounds of ordnance or fuel distributed on nine stations.
