The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine carrier-capable multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm M61 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. Additional fuel can be carried in up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air refueling system.

Designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas, the Super Hornet first flew in 1995. Full-rate production began in September 1997, after the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing the previous month. The Super Hornet entered service with the United States Navy in 1999, replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which was retired in 2006; the Super Hornet serves alongside the original Hornet. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which has operated the F/A-18A as its main fighter since 1984, ordered the F/A-18F in 2007 to replace its aging F-111C fleet. RAAF Super Hornets entered service in December 2010.

Pictured here is a gorgeous 1:72 scale diecast replica of a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to VX-9 "Vampires", then deployed to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, during March 2023. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 9-inches

Release Date: January 2024

Historical Account: "Vampires" - Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (AIRTEVRON NINE, VX-9, nicknamed The Vampires) is a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. Using the tail code XE, the squadron operates numerous aircraft and helicopters of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps.

Today, VX-9 has approximately 61 officers, 290 enlisted personnel, and 25 aircraft at NAS China Lake including: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F/A-18C/D Hornet, UH-1Y Venom, AH-1W SuperCobra and AH-1Z Viper. Additionally, VX-9 performs operational test on the EA-6B Prowler and AV-8B Harrier II; however, these test assets are owned by VX-23 and VX-31, respectively.

Until the retirement of the F-14 Tomcat, the unit also had 4 F-14As, 3 F-14Bs and 4 F-14Ds at NAS Point Mugu. Although the Point Mugu detachment has ceased operations, a new VX-9 detachment has since been established at Edwards AFB, California for the F-35C Lightning II.

Typically, aircrews are qualified in more than one of these aircraft types which increases their versatility and provides a broader base of expertise that can be applied to each project. VX-9's mission has grown to include the operational evaluation of attack, fighter, and electronic warfare aircraft, weapons systems and equipment, and to develop tactical procedures for their employment.

As for chain of command, operationally, VX-9 reports to Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) and administratively to Commander, U.S. Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC).