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China is building a potent air launched anti-ship cruise missiles along with aircraft to carry those weapons. Meanwhile, the once-dormant Russian bomber force is back—though not in the numbers of the Soviet era. Moreover, with the emergence of new adversary stealth aircraft—some of which have the capability to fly very high and very fast—which are also armed with cruise missiles, the Navy will need the range and speed that the Tomcat offered to fend off those threats. The F/A-18E/F can do the job—but only to an extent.The United States Navy retired the venerable Grumman F-14 Tomcat in 2006 after more than three decades in...

KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States and NATO have “expressed a desire” for Canada to deploy CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to Afghanistan, according to the Canadian general who leads the coalition’s air war in Afghanistan. “I can tell you from the senior Canadian in this headquarters that I have been asked on several occasions by AFCENT (United States Air Forces Central) and CENTCOM (Central Command), ‘How can we get Canadian F-18s into the game over here?’” said Maj.-Gen. Duff Sullivan. “And I’ve told them that that is a political decision back in Canada.” Sullivan, 52, flew sorties in CF-18s over...

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Two F-18 military jets collided in midair above the Columbia River in the Arlington area, scattering debris and causing a fiery explosion, according to witnesses and the Gilliam Co. Sheriff's Office. Witnesses said the military jets that collided looked like this Navy F-18 Hornet. Authorities said at least two people have been recovered at the scene and parachutes were also spotted, indicating that some crew members may have ejected. Witnesses said it appeared that at least one person was killed in the crash. Oregon State Police, detectives with the Gilliam Co. Sheriff’s Office and a rescue boat are on the...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.AN F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter crashed into the sea today when a cable snapped as it attempted to land on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington off Virginia, injuring several crew members on the flight deck, a navy official said. Three of the injured crew members were flown to shore for medical treatment, said the official, who asked not to be identified. "The aircraft crashed into the water, and the pilot safely ejected and was immediately recovered," said the official. The mishap occurred at about 4pm local time as the George Washington...