McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service
Three RAAF F/A-18A Hornets in 2012
Role	Multirole fighter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas
Built by	Most assembled by Government Aircraft Factories
Status	Retired
Primary user	Royal Australian Air Force
Produced	1984–1990
Number built	57 F/A-18A, 18 F/A-18B
Career
Serial	A21-1 to A21-57 (F/A-18A) A21-101 to A21-118 (F/A-18B)
In service	1984–2021

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft between 1984 and 2021. The Australian Government purchased 75 A and B variants of the F/A-18 in 1981 to replace the RAAF's Dassault Mirage III fighters. The Hornets entered service with the RAAF between 1984 and 1990. Four Hornets were destroyed in flying accidents during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

RAAF Hornets were first sent on a combat deployment as part of the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. During the invasion, 14 Hornets flew patrols over Iraq, as well as close air support sorties to assist coalition ground forces. RAAF F/A-18s also provided security for the American air base at Diego Garcia between late 2001 and early 2002, and have protected a number of high-profile events in Australia. Between 2015 and 2017 a detachment of Hornets was deployed to the Middle East and struck ISIL targets as part of Operation Okra.

Commencing in 1999, the RAAF put its Hornets through a series of upgrades to improve their effectiveness. However, the aircraft became increasingly difficult to operate and were at risk of being outclassed by the fighters and air-defence systems operated by other countries. Under current Australian Government planning they will be replaced by 72 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters. The Australian Government offered the Hornets for sale after they were retired and 25 were sold to Canada in early 2019. Eight F/A-18s will be preserved for historical purposes in Australia. The remaining Hornets were scrapped after a deal to sell them to a private company failed in 2023.