The Navy¹s newest strike-fighter aircraft, the F/A-18F Super Hornet, prepares for its first carrier-based catapult launch from the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the aircraft carrier conducts flight operations off the coast of North Carolina on Jan. 18, 1997. The Super Hornet will replace the A-6 Intruder and is the programmed replacement for the F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighter.

Super Hornet is fully capable of conducting both air to air and air to ground combat missions. Improvements over the F/A-18 C & D models include increases in fuel capacity, engine power, mission radius, weapons stations, aircraft surface area, and increased station time during typical combat air patrol.