U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-18 Fleet Reaches 12 Million Flight Hours
The 12 million flight hours milestone cements the F/A-18 and EA-18G fleet’s status as one of the most enduring families of aircraft in modern naval aviation.
The U.S. Navy has announced on Aug. 1, 2025, that the F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft fleet has surpassed 12 million flight hours since the introduction in the 1980s. This important achievement now cements even more the fleet’s status as one of the most enduring families of aircraft in modern naval aviation, which have served as the backbone of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aerial branches for decades.
The Navy today has around 550 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 150 EA-18G Growlers in service, together with 180 F/A-18A/C/D “Legacy” Hornets used by the U.S. Marine Corps. The last flight of the Legacy Hornet by the Navy was conducted in 2019, and the service is now currently receiving the newer Super Hornet Block III.
“When you call the roar of these aircraft ‘the sound of freedom,’ it holds real weight,” said Capt. Michael Burks, program manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G program office (PMA-265). “Throughout their service, the F/A-18 and EA-18G family has supported nearly every major U.S. military conflict of the past 40 years and continues to adapt to rapidly changing threat environments. From the initial deployment of the Hornet to the advanced capabilities of the Super Hornet and Growler, these aircraft have delivered forward presence, tactical airpower and critical electronic warfare capabilities around the globe.”