The 8 US Navy Jets That Carry the Biggest Missile and Bomb Loadouts

"The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has been an instrumental piece of the U.S. Navy's strike capabilities since its introduction in 1999. The Super Hornet has made a reputation for itself as a hard-hitting, versatile carrier-based fighter. Bigger than the original F/A-18 Hornet, the Super Hornet's larger airframe and improved systems translate into greater payload capacity and more advanced avionics. Ultimately this allows the Super Hornet to carry a wider mix of missiles and munitions, which ranks it among the Navy's most heavily armed combat jets."

"On paper the jet has a maximum takeoff weight around 66,000 pounds and the ability to carry more than 17,000 pounds of ordnance. Its loadout ranges from air-to-air missiles and a standard 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon to precision-guided bombs (JDAMs) and anti-ship missiles, giving carrier air wings real flexibility across air superiority and strike missions. The Super Hornet is powered by a pair of General Electric F414 engines that let it hit speeds over Mach 1.5."

"The EA-18G Growler is a close relative of the Super Hornet as it takes the same airframe into the electronic warfare domain. It's fitted for detection and jamming while still capable of carrying defensive ordnance. Operationally, the Super Hornet and Growler have proved their worth in sustained strike campaigns and maritime operations (notably in Middle East conflicts and the Global War on Terrorism). These jets and their combination of payload, sensors and carrier compatibility made them a lethal go-to for the Navy."

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered service in 1999 as a larger, more capable evolution of the original Hornet. The airframe and upgraded systems increase payload capacity and house more advanced avionics, enabling carriage of a wide mix of air-to-air missiles, a 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon, JDAMs, and anti-ship missiles. The jet's maximum takeoff weight is about 66,000 pounds with over 17,000 pounds of ordnance capacity, dual GE F414 engines delivering speeds above Mach 1.5, and a combat radius near 1,200 miles. The EA-18G Growler adapts the same airframe for electronic warfare, offering detection, jamming, and defensive ordnance. Both types have proven effective in sustained strike and maritime operations.

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