The U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft have surpassed 12 million cumulative flight hours, marking a milestone achievement for one of the most enduring and versatile aircraft families in American military aviation.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), based at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, announced the achievement on August 1.
The milestone underscores the operational durability and adaptability of the F/A-18 Hornet, its successor the Super Hornet, and the EA-18G Growler—aircraft that have served as core assets for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation for decades.
“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.”
Introduced in the early 1980s, the F/A-18 Hornet quickly became the Navy’s primary carrier-capable multirole fighter and attack aircraft. Over time, the platform evolved into the more capable F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler, which introduced advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
According to NAVAIR, the combined flight hours of the fleet equate to roughly 500,000 days—or nearly 1,370 years—of continuous flight time in defense of U.S. interests.
The fleet’s longevity has been sustained through key modernization initiatives. These include the Super Hornet Service Life Modification (SLM) program, which extends the airframe’s service life from 6,000 to 10,000 hours. The introduction of Block III Super Hornets has further enhanced the platform with advanced radar systems, improved pilot interfaces, and greater survivability in contested airspace.
For the EA-18G Growler, Block II upgrades are underway to expand mission system performance, integrate future capabilities, and preserve the Navy’s edge in airborne electronic warfare.
“This milestone is a significant achievement and a reflection of the generations of Sailors, Marines and civilians who sustain, fly and innovate these platforms every day,” Burks said. “Twelve million flight hours demonstrates our commitment to delivering world-class capability, enabling our warfighters to execute their missions with an asymmetric advantage and return home safely.”
The timing of the announcement also coincides with other key dates for naval aviation. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Super Hornet’s first flight in November 1995, and the Navy and Marine Corps are preparing to celebrate 250 years of service to the nation.
As part of the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO[T]), PMA-265 manages all variants of the F/A-18 and EA-18G platforms. The office’s role includes lifecycle support, upgrade implementation, and future capability development for these core tactical aircraft.
The Hornet and Growler fleets remain essential to Navy operations at sea and ashore. They are frequently deployed aboard aircraft carriers around the globe and serve in joint and coalition operations with allies across the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and Europe.