Detection range is related to the fourth root of RCS (Radar Range Equation: R_max ∝ √√(RCS)).
The Super Hornet was deliberately shaped and treated to lower its detectability compared to earlier fighters:
The Super Hornet uses larger Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) to control vortices for high-angle-of-attack flight. However, these surfaces were also angled in planform alignment—similar to the F-22’s wing edges. The edges of the LEX, the wing leading edges, and the trailing edges are all canted at specific angles (roughly 30 degrees) to scatter radar energy away from the incoming source. f18 super hornet rcs
It is a fair question, but it misses the point.
The Super Hornet doesn't need to be invisible. It just needs to be smaller than the other guy. And at 0.5 m², it is. Detection range is related to the fourth root
Boeing engineers famously stated that the Super Hornet has the radar signature of a "golf ball." A golf ball has an RCS of roughly 0.0014 m² (if perfectly spherical and metallic). Realistically, the Super Hornet does not achieve that. That figure is marketing hyperbole for the F-35 or B-2.
Critical vents and exhaust ducts use perforated panels that appear opaque to radar waves while still allowing for airflow. Evolutionary Signature Enhancements The edges of the LEX, the wing leading
The most significant change is the move from the rounded "D-shaped" inlets of the legacy Hornet to trapezoidal "caret" inlets
| Feature | F-35 Lightning II | F/A-18 Super Hornet | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 0.001 m² (Insect) | 0.1 - 0.5 m² (Bird) | | All-aspect RCS | Extremely low | High (due to tail fins & engines from side) | | Payload | Limited internal (4 AAMs) | Massive external (10+ tons) | | Speed | Mach 1.6 | Mach 1.8 | | Cost per hour | $35,000+ | $11,000 | | Electronic Warfare | Good (ASQ-239) | Excellent (ALQ-214 & NGJ) |
For decades, the F/A-18 Super Hornet (Boeing’s workhorse, designated Rhino by its crews) has been the backbone of U.S. Navy carrier air wings. It is not a dedicated stealth fighter like the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II. However, the Super Hornet represents a fascinating engineering compromise: a "fourth-generation" fighter heavily modified with "fifth-generation" low-observable (LO) technologies.
