Ah yes that makes sense, it could mean they have used their numbers of cat launch and traps, but still have life in them.

But then it’s strange that more F18C/D don’t show up in USMC land based squadrons or offered for export?

Nic

The reason is tied up in the fact that the USN and Marine Corp are trying to get the maximum value and life out of their lagacy Hornets. All the A/B Hornets that could be sold abroad have been shifted years ago! As for the ramaining A/B and C/D to ensure that they meet their OSD they are doing some rather nifty fleet management, in effect when a Hornet uses up its cat and trap life it gets parted out to keep the remaining fleet alive.

Land based Marine Corp squadrons still need to be able to deploy to a carrier when needed to, so hornets that have used up their carrier cycles are useless to them! It should also be noted that Marine Corp squadrons do form a normal part of a carrier air wing these days.

As I have said before I feel it was a mistake for Boeing to cease legacy Hornet production. Certainly countries who purchased the F16 in recent years might well of looked favorably on the Hornet if it had been available.