Hornets versus ISIS how to not satisfy anybody

摘要

WHEN THIS MAGAZINE went to press, the United States was testing whether the F/A-18 Hornet can defeat an idea. The Hornet is the US Navy's carrier-based strike warplane, sometimes derided for short legs but in its F/A-18E and F/A-18F incarnations a formidable fighting machine. It now appears that production of the Hornet will end in Fiscal Year 2015 even though its putative replacement, the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, may be years from becoming operational and is likely to be less capable.