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F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fighter Jet vs F-35B Lightning II Fighter Jet

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fighter Jet vs F-35B Lightning II Fighter Jet

	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Fighter Jet F-35B Lightning II Fighter Jet

Price
Our Rating	8.0 8.0
Manufacturer	Boeing Defense Lockheed Martin
Category	Fighter Jets Fighter Jets

General Information

Name	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet F-35B Lightning II
Manufacturer	Boeing Defense, Space & Security Lockheed Martin
Country of Origin	United States United States
Type / Role	Carrier-based Multirole Fighter Stealth Multirole Fighter (STOVL)
Generation	4.5th 5th Generation
Status	In active service In service
First Flight	November 29, 1995 June 11, 2008
Introduction / In Service Since	1999 2015
Number Built	Over 600 units 180+
Operators	U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Air Force U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Italy, Japan

Dimensions & Structure

Length	60.3 ft (18.5 m) 51.2 ft (15.6 m)
Wingspan	44.9 ft (13.6 m) 35 ft (10.7 m)
Height	16 ft (4.9 m) 14.3 ft (4.36 m)
Wing Area	500 sq ft (46.5 m²) 460 sq ft (42.7 m²)
Empty Weight	32,081 lb (14,552 kg) 32,300 lb (14,650 kg)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)	66,000 lb (29,937 kg) 60,000 lb (27,216 kg)
Internal Weapons Bay	None 2 bays
External Hardpoints	11 6

Performance

Maximum Speed	Mach 1.8 Mach 1.6
Range	1,275 nm (2,346 km) 900 nm (1,670 km)
Combat Radius	390 nm (722 km) 450 nm (833 km)
Service Ceiling	50,000 ft (15,240 m) 50,000 ft
Rate of Climb	44,882 ft/min 45,000 ft/min
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio	0.93 0.87
G Limits	+7.5 / -3.0 +9

Powerplant

Engine Type	Afterburning Turbofan Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600
No. of Engines	2 1
Thrust (each)	22,000 lbf 40,000 lbf (with afterburner)
Thrust Vectoring	No Yes (3-bearing nozzle + lift fan)
Fuel Capacity	14,400 lb (internal) 13,500 lb (6,123 kg)

Armament

Gun	1× M61A2 20mm Vulcan GAU-22/A 25mm cannon (external pod)
Missiles (Air-to-Air)	AIM-9X, AIM-120 AMRAAM AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X Sidewinder
Missiles (Air-to-Ground)	AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM
Bombs	JDAM, Paveway, Mk 83/84 JDAM, GBU-12, SDB
Hardpoints	11 6 external + 2 internal
Payload Capacity	9,920 kg (21,900 lb) 15,000 lb (6,800 kg)

Avionics & Systems

Radar	AN/APG-79 AESA AN/APG-81 AESA
Radar Range	150+ km 150+ miles
Electronic Warfare (EW) System	AN/ALQ-214 IDECM AN/ASQ-239
Targeting System	ATFLIR pod EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System)
Helmet Display	JHMCS Gen III HMDS
Navigation	GPS/INS GPS/INS
Autopilot / AI Assistance	Advanced Flight Control System Yes
Communication	Secure data link, Link 16 MADL, Link-16, SATCOM

Stealth & Technology

Radar Cross Section (RCS)	Reduced (~1 m² class) 0.0015 m²
Stealth Features	Radar-absorbent materials, shaping Radar-absorbent materials, edge alignment
Infrared Signature Reduction	Moderate Yes
Sensor Fusion	Partial Full 360° situational awareness
Networking Capabilities	NIFC-CA compatible Multi-domain data sharing

Variants

Special Export Versions

Australia (F/A-18F) F-35I (Israel), F-35A (Japan)

Operational History

Major Conflicts / Deployments	Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya Syria (USMC), Pacific deterrence missions
Notable Operators	U.S. Navy, Australia USMC, RAF, Royal Navy
Combat Proven?	Yes Yes
Mission Types	Air superiority, strike, SEAD, maritime patrol Strike, reconnaissance, air defense, EW

Cost & Program

Unit Cost	~$70–80 million (Block III) ~$101 million (FY2024)
Development Cost	~$5 billion $400+ billion (JSF program)
Program Name	F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Program Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
Funding Countries	United States, Australia USA, UK, Italy, Japan, others

Additional Information

Upgrades Planned	Block III digital cockpit, network enhancements Block 4 software, new weapons integration
Future Replacement	F/A-XX (Next Generation Air Dominance) None (mid-century service life)
Export Restrictions	U.S. ITAR-controlled Yes (US approval required)
Notable Achievements	Over two decades of carrier dominance First operational stealth VTOL jet
Competitors	Rafale M, F-35C, MiG-29K Su-57, J-35, J-20, FCAS

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