F / A-18 Hornet

I-F/A-18C evela eqenjini le-VFA-34 “Blue Blaster”. Indiza ine-livery ekhethekile yokuhlonipha indiza yokugcina yokusebenza emlandweni we-US Navy Hornets, eyenzeka emkhunjini wendiza i-USS Carl Vinson phakathi kukaJanuwari no-Ephreli 2018.

Ngo-Ephreli walo nyaka, i-US Navy (USN) yamisa ngokusemthethweni ukusetshenziswa kwezindiza zezindiza ze-F / A-18 Hornet emayunithi okulwa, futhi ngo-Okthoba, ama-fighters alolu hlobo ahoxiswa ezinyunithi zokuqeqesha zeNavy. Izilwi "zakudala" ze-F/A-18 Hornet zisasebenza namaqembu e-United States Marine Corps (USMC), ahlose ukuwasebenzisa kuze kube ngu-2030-2032. Ngaphezu kwe-United States, amazwe ayisikhombisa angabanikazi be-F / A-18 Hornet fighters: i-Australia, iFinland, iSpain, iCanada, i-Kuwait, iMalaysia neSwitzerland. Abaningi bahlose ukubagcina besenkonzweni eminye iminyaka eyishumi. Umsebenzisi wokuqala ukuzisusa kungenzeka kube yi-Kuwait, futhi owokugcina kube yi-Spain.

I-Hornet airborne fighter yakhelwe i-US Navy ngokuhlanganyela nguMcDonnel Douglas kanye no-Northrop (okwamanje u-Boeing no-Northrop Grumman). Indiza yandiza ngoNovemba 18, 1978. Ukuhlolwa kwakuhilela izindiza eziyisishiyagalolunye ezinesihlalo esisodwa, eziqokwe i-F-9A, kanye nezindiza ezingu-18 ezinezihlalo ezimbili, eziqokwe i-TF-2A. Izivivinyo zokuqala phakathi kwenkampani yezindiza i-USS America zaqala ngo-Okthoba 18. Kuleli qophelo ohlelweni, i-USN yanquma ukuthi ayidingi izinguqulo ezimbili zendiza - i-fighter nesiteleka. Ngakho-ke igama elithi "F/A" lasungulwa. Inguqulo yesihlalo esisodwa yaqokwa ukuthi F/A-1979A, futhi inguqulo yezihlalo ezimbili yaqokwa F/A-18B. Amaqembu ayezokwamukela ama-fighters amasha aguqule igama lawo lezincwadi ezisuka ku-VF (fighter squadron) kanye ne-VA (strike squadron) zaba: VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron), i.e. iqembu le-fighter-bomber.

I-F/A-18A/B Hornet yethulwa eqenjini lezempi lase-US ngoFebhuwari 1981. Amaqembu e-USMC aqala ukuwathola ngo-1983. Athatha indawo yendiza yokuhlasela iMcDonnel Douglas A-4 Skyhawk kanye namabhomu e-LTV A-7 Corsair II. , McDonnell I-Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighters kanye nenguqulo yabo yokuhlola - RF-4B. Kuze kube ngu-1987, kwakhiqizwa ama-371 F/A-18As (ekukhiqizweni kwamabhulokhi angu-4 kuye kwangama-22), okwathi ngemva kwalokho ukukhiqizwa kwashintshela kokuhlukile kwe-F/A-18C. Inguqulo enezihlalo ezimbili, i-F/A-18B, yayihloselwe ukuqeqeshwa, kodwa lezi zindiza zigcine amandla okulwa aphelele enguqulo yesihlalo esisodwa. Ngekhabhu yayo enwetshiwe, inguqulo ye-B ithatha amaphesenti angu-6 amathangi angaphakathi. uphethiloli ongaphansi kunenguqulo yesihlalo esisodwa. 39 F/A-18Bs akhiwe emabhuloki okukhiqiza 4 kuya ku-21.

Ukundiza kwe-F/A-18 Hornet multirole homing fighter kwenzeka ngoNovemba 18, 1978. Kuze kube ngu-2000, kwakhiwa izindiza eziyi-1488 zalolu hlobo.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-80, i-Northrop yasungula inguqulo esekelwe emhlabeni ye-Hornet, eqoke i-F-18L. I-fighter yayihloselwe izimakethe zamazwe ngamazwe - kubamukeli ababehlose ukuzisebenzisa kuphela ezisekelweni eziphansi. I-F-18L ibingenazo izinto "ebhodini" - ihuku lokuhlala, i-catapult mount kanye nendlela yokugoqa amaphiko. I-fighter iphinde yathola i-chassis elula. I-F-18L ibilula kakhulu kune-F/A-18A, okwenza ikwazi ukulawuleka, uma iqhathaniswa ne-F-16 fighter. Ngaleso sikhathi, uzakwethu we-Northrop uMcDonnel Douglas unikeze isilwi se-F/A-18L ezimakethe zamazwe ngamazwe. Kube kuphela ukwahluka okuncishwe kancane kwe-F/A-18A. Ukunikezwa bekusemqhudelwaneni oqondile ne-F-18L, okuholele ekutheni uNorthrop amangalele uMcDonnell Douglas. Ukungqubuzana kwaphetha ngokuthi uMcDonnell Douglas athenge i-F/A-50L ku-Northrop ngezigidi ezingu-$18 futhi eyiqinisekisa indima kasonkontileka omncane oyinhloko. Kodwa-ke, ekugcineni, inguqulo eyisisekelo ye-F / A-18A / B yayihloselwe ukuthekelisa, okuthi, ngesicelo sekhasimende, ingasuswa ezinhlelweni zebhodi. Kodwa-ke, ama-Hornet fighters ayengenayo izici zenguqulo yomhlaba "ekhethekile", okwakuyi-F-18L.

Maphakathi nawo-80s, inguqulo ethuthukisiwe ye-Hornet yasungulwa, ebizwa ngokuthi F / A-18C / D. I-F/A-18C (BuNo 163427) yokuqala yandiza ngoSepthemba 3, 1987. Ngaphandle, i-F/A-18C/D yayingehlukile ku-F/A-18A/B. Ekuqaleni, amaHornets F/A-18C/D asebenzisa izinjini ezifanayo nenguqulo ye-A/B, i.e. I-General Electric F404-GE-400. Izingxenye ezintsha ezibaluleke kakhulu ezisetshenziswe enguqulweni ye-C, phakathi kwezinye, i-Martin-Baker SJU-17 NACES Ejection Seats (I-Common Navy Crew Ejection Seat), amakhompyutha amasha emishini, amasistimu e-electronic jamming, namarekhodi endiza amelana nomonakalo. Ama-fighters ajwayelane nemicibisholo emisha ye-AIM-120 AMRAAM yokuya emoyeni, i-AGM-65F Maverick ezicitshwayo ze-thermal imaging guided kanye nemicibisholo ye-AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship.

Kusukela ngo-FY 1988, i-F/A-18C ikhiqizwe ekucushweni kwe-Night Attack, okuvumela ukusebenza komoya kuya phansi ebusuku kanye nezimo zezulu ezimbi. Ama-fighters ajwayele ukuthwala iziqukathi ezimbili: i-Hughes AN/AAR-50 NAVFLIR (uhlelo lokuzulazula lwe-infrared) kanye ne-Loral AN/AAS-38 Nite HAWK (uhlelo lokuqondisa lwe-infrared). I-cockpit ifakwe i-AV/AVQ-28 head-up display (imifanekiso ye-raster), izibonisi ezimbili ze-Kaiser 127 x 127 mm ezinombala we-multi-function (MFDs) (ezithatha indawo yesibonisi se-monochrome) nesibonisi sokuzula esibonisa idijithali, umbala, ezihambayo. Smith Srs imephu 2100 (TAMMAC - Tactical Aircraft Moving Map Ability). Ikhabhinethi iguqulelwe ukuthi isetshenziswe izibuko zasebusuku ze-GEC Cat's Eyes (NVG). Kusukela ngoJanuwari 1993, inguqulo yakamuva yesiqukathi se-AN/AAS-38, esifakwe umklami we-laser kanye ne-rangefinder, yengezwe emishinini ye-Hornet, ngenxa yalokho abashayeli bezindiza be-Hornet bakwazi ukukhombisa ngokuzimela okuhlosiwe okuqondiswe nge-laser. izikhali (ezingezakho noma ezithwalwa ezinye izindiza). I-prototype ye-F/A-18C Night Hawk yandiza ngoMeyi 6, 1988. Ukukhiqizwa kwamaHornets “asebusuku” kwaqala ngoNovemba 1989 njengengxenye yeyunithi yokukhiqiza yama-29 (kumakhophi ayi-138).

NgoJanuwari 1991, ukufakwa kwezinjini ezintsha ze-General Electric F36-GE-404 EPE (Enhanced Performance Engine) kwaqala njengengxenye yokukhiqiza block 402 e-Hornety. Lezi zinjini zikhiqiza cishe amaphesenti ayishumi. amandla engeziwe uma kuqhathaniswa nochungechunge "-10". Ngo-400, ukufakwa kwe-radar yasemoyeni ye-Hughes (manje eyiRaytheon) yesimanjemanje futhi enamandla kakhulu i-AN / APG-1992 yaqalwa ku-F / A-18C / D. Ithathe indawo yerada ye-Hughes AN/APG-73 efakwe ekuqaleni. Ukundiza kwe-F / A-65C nge-radar entsha kwenzeka ngo-Ephreli 18, 15. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, isitshalo saqala ukufaka i-radar ye-AN / APG-1992. Ezingxenyeni ezikhiqizwe kusukela ngo-73, sekuqalile ukufakwa kweziqalisi ze-anti-radiation ezinamakamelo amane kanye namakhasethi okuphazamiseka okushisa we-AN / ALE-1993, athathe indawo ye-AN / ALE-47 endala, kanye nohlelo oluthuthukisiwe lwe-AN / ALR-39 lokuxwayisa ngemisebe. . .

Ukuthuthukiswa kwangempela kwe-Night Hawk akuzange kufake izihlalo ezimbili ze-F/A-18D. Amakhophi okuqala angama-29 akhiqizwa ekucushweni kokuqeqeshwa kokulwa namandla okulwa ayisisekelo e-Model C. Ngo-1988, inguqulo yokuhlasela ye-F/A-18D, ekwazi ukusebenza kuzo zonke izimo zezulu, yakhiqizwa ngokuhleleka okukhethekile kwe I-US Marine Corps. yathuthukiswa. I-cockpit yangemuva, engenazo induku yokulawula, yalungiselelwa abaqhubi bezinhlelo zokulwa (WSO - Weapons Systems Officer). Inama-joystick emisebenzi eminingi eseceleni yokulawula izikhali namasistimu asebhodini, kanye nesibonisi semephu esisusekayo esitholakala phezulu kuphaneli yokulawula. I-F/A-18D ithole iphakheji egcwele ye-Night Hawk Model C. I-F/A-18D elungisiwe (BuNo 163434) indize e-St. Louis May 6, 1988 Ukukhiqizwa kokuqala kwe-F/A-18D Night Hawk (BuNo 163986) kwakuyimodeli yokuqala ka-D eyakhelwe ku-Block 29.

Umbutho Wamasosha Asolwandle wase-US uyalele ama-96 F/A-18D Night Hawks, iningi lawo asebeyingxenye ye-Marine Corps esebenza sonke isimo sezulu.

Lawa maqembu aqanjwe ngokuthi i-VMA (AW), lapho izinhlamvu AW zimelela All-Weather, okusho zonke izimo zezulu. I-F/A-18D ngokuyinhloko ithathe indawo yendiza yokuhlasela ye-Grumman A-6E Intruder. Kamuva nabo baqala ukwenza umsebenzi walokho okuthiwa. izilawuli zokusekelwa komoya zokusekelwa komoya okusheshayo nangokwesu - FAC(A)/TAC(A). Bathathe indawo yendiza yakwaMcDonnell Douglas OA-4M Skyhawk kanye nendiza yaseNorth American Rockwell OV-10A/D Bronco kule ndima. Kusukela ngo-1999, i-F/A-18D isiphinde yathatha imisebenzi yobuhlakani yokuhlola umoya phambilini eyenziwa ama-RF-4B Phantom II fighters. Lokhu kwenzeke ngenxa yokwethulwa kohlelo lwe-Martin Marietta ATARS (Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System) uhlelo lokuhlola ngobuhlakani. Isistimu "ye-palletized" ye-ATARS ifakwe egumbini le-M61A1 Vulcan 20mm multi-barrel gun, ekhishwa lapho kusetshenziswa i-ATARS.

Izindiza ezinohlelo lwe-ATARS zihlukaniswa ngokubonakala okuhle okunamafasitela aphumele ngaphansi kwekhala lendiza. Umsebenzi wokufaka noma ukususa i-ATARS ungaqedelwa emahoreni ambalwa ensimini. I-Marine Corps inikeze ok.48 F / A-18D kumishini yokuhlola. Lezi zindiza zithole igama elingekho emthethweni elithi F/A-18D (RC). Njengamanje, amaHornets okuhlola anekhono lokuthumela izithombe nezithombe ezihambayo zisuka ohlelweni lwe-ATARS ngesikhathi sangempela ukuya kwabamukeli abaphansi. I-F/A-18D(RC) iphinde yashintshwa ukuze ithwale iziqukathi ze-Loral AN/UPD-8 ezinerada ebheke ohlangothini esemoyeni (i-SLAR) kuphini eliphakathi nendawo.

Ngo-Agasti 1, 1997, uMcDonnell Douglas watholwa nguBoeing, osephenduke "umnikazi womkhiqizo". Isikhungo sokukhiqiza amaHornets, futhi kamuva neSuper Hornets, sisatholakala eSt. Louis. Isamba esingu-466 F/A-18Cs kanye ne-161 F/A-18Ds yakhelwe i-US Navy. Ukukhiqizwa kwemodeli ye-C/D kwaphela ngo-2000. Uchungechunge lokugcina lwe-F / A-18C lwahlanganiswa eFinland. Ngo-August 2000, yanikezwa i-Finnish Air Force. I-Hornet yokugcina eyakhiqizwa kwakuyi-F/A-18D, eyamukelwa yi-US Marine Corps ngo-August 2000.

Ukwenziwa kwesimanje "A+" kanye "A++"

Uhlelo lokuqala lwesimanje lwe-Hornet lwethulwa maphakathi nawo-90s futhi lwafaka kuphela i-F / A-18A. Ama-fighters ashintshwe ngamarada e-AN / APG-65, okwenza kwaba nokwenzeka ukuthwala imicibisholo ye-AIM-120 AMRAAM yokuya emoyeni. I-F/A-18A iphinde yashintshwa ukuze iphathe i-AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening yokugada kanye namamojula okukhomba.

Isinyathelo esilandelayo kwaba ukukhethwa cishe kuka-80 F / A-18A ngesisetshenziswa eside kakhulu nama-airframe asele esesimweni esingcono uma kuqhathaniswa. Ayefakwe ama-radar e-AN / APG-73 nezinto ezingazodwana ze-avionics C. Lawa makhophi amakwe ngophawu A +. Ngokulandelayo, amayunithi angu-54 A+ athole iphakheji ye-avionics efanayo naleyo yafakwa kumodeli C. Abe esephawulwa ngokuthi F/A-18A++. Ama-Hornets F / A-18A + / A ++ bekufanele agcwalise umkhumbi we-F / A-18C / D. Njengoba amasosha amasha e-F / A-18E / F Super Hornet eqala ukusebenza, amanye ama-A + nawo wonke ama-A ++ adluliswa Umbutho Wezempi Wasemanzini wase-US wayiswa e-Marine Corps.

Amasosha Asolwandle ase-US aphinde abeka i-F/A-18A yawo ngohlelo lwesimanje olunezigaba ezimbili, nokho, olwaluhluke ngandlela thile kolwe-US Navy. Ukuthuthukela kuzinga elingu-A+ kuhlanganisa, phakathi kwezinye izinto, ukufakwa kwamarada e-AN/APG-73, amasistimu wokuzulazula ngesathelayithi-inertial ye-GPS/INS ehlanganisiwe, kanye nohlelo olusha lwe-AN/ARC-111 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF). Ama-hornets olwandle ahlome ngazo ahlukaniswa nezimpondo zesici ezitholakala ekhaleni phambi kwe-fairing (ngokwezwi nezwi ebizwa ngokuthi "abasiki bezinyoni").

Esigabeni sesibili sokwenziwa kwesimanjemanje - ezingeni elithi “A++” - i-USMC Hornet ifakwe, phakathi kwezinye izinto, izibonisi zekristalu eliwuketshezi (i-LCD), izibonisi ezifakwe isigqoko se-JHMCS, izihlalo zokukhipha i-SJU-17 NACES kanye ne-AN/ALE- 47 ukukhiya i-cartridge ejectors. Amandla okulwa e-F/A-18A++ Hornet acishe abe mahle njenge-F/A-18C, futhi ngokombono wabashayeli bezindiza abaningi aphakeme kakhulu, njengoba ahlome ngezici zesimanjemanje nezilula kakhulu ze-avionics.