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As a battle proven next generation multi-role fighter, the F/A-18F Super Hornet is equipped with a number of advanced weapons and sensors. These include radar guided and infra-red seeking missiles, a nose-mounted cannon and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The aircraft is easily recognised by the rectangular engine air intakes and features a dual cockpit configuration offering enhanced, networked air combat solutions.
Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) are fillets added to the front of a modern fighter aircraft's wings that provide greater manoeuvrability. As the plane increases the sharpness of a climb or turn, a high-speed vortex is generated that remains attached to the top of the wing. The wing now has a low-pressure zone on top, and continues to generate lift past the point where it would normally stall.
Unlike older style aircrafts that rely on mechanical or hydraulic control systems, the Super Hornet uses a clever combination of computers and electrical linkages, making it agile and reliable. It's what is known as 'fly-by-wire' technology. These new systems can also respond more flexibly to changing aerodynamic conditions, prevent a stall or stop the pilot from overstressing the airframe.
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Modern jets like the Super Hornet have afterburners incorporated in their engines. This creates a very large increase in thrust by injecting fuel into the hot exhaust from the turbine engine. The exhaust gas still contains enough oxygen to burn the fuel, and the added expansion of gas from the burning fuel can add up to 50% extra thrust to the aircraft. Because the afterburner has very high fuel burn rates, it is only used sparingly in short bursts, such as during take-off or in air-to-air combat.
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The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barrelled, air-cooled Gatling-style cannon, which fires 20mm rounds at an extremely high rate.
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile or AMRAAM, is a modern air-to-air missile (AAM) capable of all weather day and night performance. It is a fire-and-forget missile with active guidance.
This is a heat-seeking, short-range, AAM carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters.
As an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, this weapon uses active radar homing, and a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory to improve survivability and lethality.
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