The end of production of the F/A-18 won't actually mean an end to the program. The Super Hornet, an upgraded, enlarged, and improved version of the F/A-18 Hornet, first entered service in 1999. It has remained the workhorse for the U.S. Navy for a quarter century, and those final Super Hornets will likely be flying for decades to come as well.
The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, which is now manufactured by Boeing following its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997, has been produced in two distinct versions including the single-seat F/A-18/E and the dual-seat F/A-18/F. The advanced aircraft entered fleet service in 1999, as the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat.
12 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets conduct maritime operations off the coast of Somalia under Joint Task Force – Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.
The F/A-18E and F/A-18F are designed to meet current Navy fighter escort and interdiction mission requirements, to maintain F/A-18 fleet air defense and close air support roles, as well as an increasing range of missions, including Forward Air Controller (Airborne) and Aerial Tanking, as they have proven capability to replace the S-3 as an aerial tanker. F/A-18E/F enhancements include increased range and improved carrier suitability required for the F/A-18 to continue its key strike fighter role against the advanced threats of the 21st century.