F/A-18E = F-15C?

LAST EDITED ON 26-04-01 AT 09:35 AM (GMT)[p]Now, we all know the thoughts of many on this board regarding the F/A-18E/F as a replacement for the F-14s in the USN fleet defence role, so we won’t go there, but I don’t think I’m the first to notice how similar the F/A-18E is to the F-15. I’m pretty sure that – just like the original Hornet – the Super Hornet will make quite a good land-based fighter. So how do these two compare (the F-15 and the F/A-18E)?

1) F/A-18E has, at 6670kg (14700lb), roughly 10% MORE internal fuel than the F-15C (without CFTs).

2) F/A-18E is, at approx 14000kg (30885lbs), roughly 8% HEAVIER than the F-15C, due primarily to beefy internal structure and landing gear for the stresses of carrier operations.

3) F/A-18E is powered by 2 F414s which deliver 98kN (44000lbs) total thrust, around 8% LESS than the F-15C’s F100-PW-220 deliver.

4) F/A-18E is 18.38m (60.3ft) long, F-15C is 19.45m (63.8ft) long.

5) F/A-18E has a wingspan of 13.62m (44.7ft), F-15C has a wingspan of 13.05m (42.8ft).

6) F/A-18E – with 3 480 gallon drop tanks, full internal fuel, 6 AMRAAMs and 2 Sidewinders – has an air interdiction range in excess of 1205km (650nm) operating from a land base. This is comparable to the F-15C.

7) Although the F-15C is far superior in the supersonic arena with it’s supersonic optimised wing, and it’s APG-63 is superior to the F/A-18E’s initial APG-73 in the BVR arena, the F/A-18E has very good low speed maneuvrebility and high alpha performance (I think Boeing claims pitch rates in excess of 40 degrees per second).

8) The AN/APG-79 AESA will be better than the APG-63(V)2 AESA.

So, what do you think guys? The Super Hornet might not be the best aircraft for the USN’s carrier needs, but it will stack up quite well for nations who would also be offered the F-15F, Typhoon and Rafale.

MinMiester

PS: Somebody’s labelled the F-111 “a lump of ass” compared to the “best-strike-aircraft-in-the-world” Su-34 (how it achieved that title without entering service belies me) over yonder at the Flanker2 forum, so I’m in a bad mood :(. In such a bad mood in fact, that I may not have been thinking straight when I compared the F/A-18E to the F-15C. So lay easy on me Elp.