The F/A-18F Super Hornet is a carrier-based multirole aircraft. It is the two-seater variant of the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
It debuted in Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation and sporadically appeared in subsequent games. It made its most recent appearance in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
History[]
Strangereal[]
In 2014, the IUN-PKF's Mobius Squadron utilized the aircraft against a resurgent Free Erusea.[1]
In 2015, numerous Super Hornets were deployed during the Emmeria-Estovakia War by the Estovakian Navy, Republic of Emmeria Navy and Republic of Emmeria Air Force;[2] Emmeria's Avalanche Squadron were notable users of the aircraft.[3] In 2016, during the first cruise missile attack on Gracemeria, an Estovakian F/A-18F ace, Vaslav Reynek, callsign "Dama", was tasked by rebellious Estovakian officers[4] to report on the to Gracemeria damage caused by the Chandelier,[5] however, he was ultimately shot down by Talisman in battle.[6]
Super Hornets continued to be fielded in the Lighthouse War by the Osean Maritime Defense Force as well as the Erusean Air Force.[7][8] During an Osean operation over the Waiapolo Mountains an Erusean F/A-18F ace, First Lieutenant Hans Weber, callsign "Spider", engaged the Osean Spare Squadron, but was shot down by Trigger. Erusea also developed autonomous drone F/A-18Fs which were used for deception and as escorts.[9][10] In addition to the F/A-18F units operated by the OMDF and Erusea, Spare Squadron member Full Band used a refurbished F/A-18F as his personal aircraft.[11]
On June 30, 2020, at the Redmill Air Force Base ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the end of the Belkan War, the Osean Air Defense Force displayed an ADFX-01 Morgan. A select few photographers were given permission to ride in an F/A-18F Super Hornet to fly alongside and take photographs of the experimental aircraft.[12] Also showcased at the ceremony, were Super Hornets belonging to the Emmerian Navy's Avalanche Squadron and the IUN-PKF's Mobius Squadron.[13]
Assault Horizon universe[]
F/A-18F Super Hornets were used by Warwolf Squadron when they fought against Big Bear Squadron who had defected to the New Russian Federation.[14]
Infinity universe[]
The F/A-18F was one of the many aircraft designs sold to Wernher and Noah Enterprises for their Advanced Automated Aviation Plant. This model of aircraft was very popular during Operation Eternal Liberation, being used by both the USEA Federation and the United Nations Forces extensively in almost all theaters.[15]
Game Analysis[]
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown[]
- "A versatile carrier-based fighter capable of providing support for aircraft, ground forces, and ships. With better maneuverability at medium speeds than high-speed fighters, it is effective in air raids. Nicknamed "Super Hornet," the craft is an improved F-Type."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- Main Game: The F/A-18F is available on the Aircraft Tree and costs 285,000 MRP. It requires purchasing the F-14D Super Tomcat.
- VR Mode: Available at the start of the game.
Statistics
Weapons
- GUN x2400 (∞ on Easy/Normal)
- MSL x98
- QAAM x10
- LASM x16 (30,000 MRP) (VR: Complete 1 mission with the F/A-18F)
- EML x22 (30,000 MRP) (VR: Complete 2 missions with the F/A-18F)
- FLR x4
Part Slots
- BODY: 36
- ARMS: 36
- MISC: 36
Named Pilots
- Hans Weber (SPIDER)
- Full Band (Spare 6)
- Golem Squadron
- Mobius Squadron
Skins
- Osea: Air Superiority Light Grey
- Erusea: Three-tone sky blue and grey "Aggressor" camouflage(Unlocked by earning the "All for the Glory" medal: Earn the MVP in Team Death Match.)
- Special: Three-tone mid/dark blue pixel camouflage. Livery of the United States Navy VFA-137 “Kestrels”
- Mage: Osea skin with Mage Squadron markings
- Spare: Osea skin with Spare Squadron markings
- Strider: Osea skin with Strider Squadron markings
- Full Band: Spare skin with Full Band's markings
- Jolly Rogers: Livery of the United States Navy VFA-103 "Jolly Rogers"
- Red Devils: Livery of the United States Marine Corps VMFA-232 "Red Devils"
- Grun: Grun Team livery
- General Resource: F/A-18I Hornet ADV livery (acquire the "Cutting-edge Aircraft Series Set" DLC)
Gallery
A Mobius Squadron Super Hornet preparing to take off from an aircraft carrier
An OADF Super Hornet taking off
An F/A-18F equipped with an EML
Flyby over Chopinburg Rainforest
With an Emmerian emblem
Flyby over Farbanti
Trigger's Super Hornet landing at Cape Rainy Air base, showcasing the infamous glowing Red Devils skin glitch
Ace Combat Infinity[]
- "Whether it's air-to-air or air-to-ground, this carrier-based fighter is capable of handling a wide variety of missions. An easy-to-handle aircraft that boasts stable maneuverability at any speed. Equipped with long-range attack weapons, it's well-suited for preemptive attacks. Nicknamed the "Super Hornet"."
- ― Hangar
Lv. | Cst | Price | GUN | MSL | 4AAM | LASM | SAAM | SP | MO | ST | AA | AG | DF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 575 | 93,600 | 413 | 108 | 10 | – | – | E | E+ | D | D | E+ | E |
2 | 614 | 14,400 | 454 | 110 | 14 | – | – | E+ | D | D+ | D+ | D | E |
3 | 653 | 20,880 | 495 | 114 | 18 | – | – | D | D | D+ | D+ | D | E+ |
4 | 692 | 38,160 | 536 | 118 | 22 | 10 | – | D+ | D+ | D+ | D+ | D+ | D |
5 | 731 | 64,800 | 578 | 122 | 26 | 12 | – | D+ | D+ | C | C | D+ | D+ |
6 | 770 | 158,400[a] | 619 | 126 | 30 | 14 | – | C | C | C | C | D+ | C |
7 | 809 | 78,000 | 660 | 130 | 32 | 15 | 15 | C | C | C | C+ | C | C+ |
8 | 848 | 151,200 | 702 | 134 | 34 | 16 | 16 | C+ | C+ | C+ | C+ | C | B |
9 | 887 | 345,600 | 743 | 138 | 36 | 17 | 17 | C+ | C+ | C+ | C+ | C | B+ |
10 | 926 | 788,400 | 785 | 142 | 38 | 18 | 18 | B | B | C+ | B | C | A |
11 | 973 | 1,752,000 | 826 | 146 | 40 | 19 | 19 | B | B+ | B | B | C+ | A+ |
12 | 1020 | 1,284,000 | 867 | 150 | 42 | 20 | 20 | B+ | B+ | B | B | C+ | S |
13 | 1067 | 2,328,000 | 909 | 154 | 44 | 21 | 21 | A | A | B+ | B+ | B | S |
14 | 1114 | 3,216,000 | 950 | 158 | 46 | 22 | 22 | A+ | A+ | A | B+ | B | S+ |
15 | 1161 | 4,320,000 | 992 | 162 | 50 | 24 | 24 | A+ | S | A | A | B+ | S+ |
16 | 1221 | 6,048,000 | 1030 | 164 | 52 | 25 | 25 | S | S | A | A | B+ | S+ |
17 | 1280 | 6,912,000 | 1069 | 166 | 54 | 26 | 26 | S+ | S+ | A+ | A | A | S+ |
18 | 1339 | 7,776,000 | 1107 | 168 | 56 | 27 | 27 | S+ | S+ | A+ | A+ | A | S+ |
19 | 1398 | 9,936,000 | 1146 | 170 | 58 | 28 | 28 | S+ | S+ | A+ | A+ | A | S+ |
20 | 1457 | 12,528,000 | 1185 | 172 | 62 | 30 | 30 | S+ | S+ | S | S | A+ | S++ |
- Part Slots
- At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 26 BODY, 26 ARMS, and 26 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.
- Nicknames
- Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.
- Lv.3: Shining Needle
- Lv.10: Watch The Angles
- Lv.15: Surfing Cavalry
- Lv.20: Single Horned Rhino of the Deep
Skins
- Default: White body
- Event Skin #01: Assault Horizon Color 2; two-tone gray camouflage with yellow tail wing tips based on the F/A-18B Hornets of VFC-12
- "Grun" Skin: Grun Squadron livery
- Event Skin #02: Black and white splinter camouflage. Based on the F/A-18A+ Hornets of VFC-12.
- Event Skin #03: JASDF-styled ocean camouflage
- Event Skin #04: Zone of Endless red
Gallery
Four UNF F/A-18Fs in Operation Battle Axe
Banner advertising Event Skin #03 and the B-1B -Razor-
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon[]
- "Whether it's air-to-air or air-to-ground, this carrier-based fighter is capable of handling a wide variety of missions. An easy-to-handle aircraft that boasts stable maneuverability at any speed. Equipped with long-range attack weapons, it's well-suited for preemptive attacks. Nicknamed the "Super Hornet"."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
Statistics
Special Weapons
Colors
- Color 1: Gray body with black vertical tails.
- Color 2: Two-tone gray camouflage.
- Color 3: F-18 HARV livery.
- Red Devils (DLC)
- Jolly Rogers (DLC)
Gallery
The Super Hornet equipped with ECM pods
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation[]
- "The F/A-18F achieves superb handling while maintaining nearly flawless stability. The combined payload capacity of air-to-ground and air-to-air SP weapons and missiles promise increased battle performance. With the capability to quickly adjust to the conditions of virtually any battlefield, the F/A-18F is a true multirole aircraft."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- Complete "Siege on Silvat". Costs $76,000.
Statistics
Weapons
Colors
- Emmeria: Gray body with black vertical tails.
- Estovakia: Three-tone grey camouflage.
- Estovakia SP: Black body with white underside. Modeled after the F-18 HARV.
- Scarface Emblem (DLC)
- Razgriz (DLC)
- THE IDOLMASTER Ritsuko (DLC)
Named Pilots
- Freddie Durand (AVALANCHE)
- Vaslav Reynek (DAMA)
- Incubus (Ace of Aces)
Gallery
An F/A-18F in Emmerian colors
An F/A-18F in Estovakian camouflage
A Super Hornet landing on an aircraft carrier
Estovakian F/A-18Fs attacking Snake Pit
Trivia[]
- In Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, the F/A-18F's Color 3's trim color is a special shade of gold that is not otherwise available in the color palette. If the player makes a new skin based on Color 3 and changes the gold trim, they cannot restore it without making a new custom skin.
- The initial images of the F/A-18F in Ace Combat 7 showed the words "NAVY" and "USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT" on the fuselage. These markings were later removed, as evidenced in the VR Demo and 2016 trailer.
- The F/A-18F in Ace Combat 7 is a mix between the Block 1 and Block 2 variants. While it features the 5-stack ECS pipes above the engines, a distinguishing feature of the later Super Hornet airframes, the 3D model of the WSO seat is of the Block 1 variant (lacks the 8x10" big-screen MPCD). Judging by the early screenshots, it is certain that the new ECS pipes are a later addition to the original 3D model modeled after the Block 1.
Footnotes[]
- ↑ Players could use one Nonstandard Upgrade Request Form instead of credits for the Lv.6 upgrade.
References[]
- ↑ VR Mode, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Mission 01: "Invasion of Gracemeria", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Aces At War: A History 2019, page 059.
- ↑ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Assault Record #26 - Vaslav Reynek.
- ↑ "Gracemeria Patrol", Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation.
- ↑ Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ File:Ace Combat 7 Skies Unknown - PGW 2017 PS VR.
- ↑ "Faceless Soldier", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- ↑ "Last Hope", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- ↑ "444", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown"
- ↑ ADFX-01 MORGAN First Prototype excerpts from Scale Aviation. Translation by TaskForce23.
- ↑ ACES at WARS: The classified document about Circum-Pacific War was revealed
- ↑ Blue on Blue, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.
- ↑ Ace Combat Infinity.