Aviation expert unveils pros and cons of F/A-18 Hornets, potential benefits for Ukraine
Romanenko pointed out that these aircraft possess robust landing gear and two engines, making them the most suitable Western fighters for Ukrainian airfields.
“Moreover, this is a fairly popular aircraft,” he said.
“However, it is not popular among our neighbors. If we switch to the F-18 and establish a certain unit, we will encounter significant issues with their maintenance and servicing because none of the neighboring countries (have them).”
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The expert said the closest country that could assist Ukraine in the maintenance of F/A-18 Hornets would be Spain, necessitating the transportation of the aircraft across Europe.
“They are also in service with Finland, but Ukraine does not have direct (overland) communications with that country, and no one will transport these aircraft there for repairs,” Romanenko added.
“Canada and Australia are also options, but they are even more distant possibilities,” Romanenko concluded.
The aviation expert also discussed the different models of these aircraft, including the C-D versions and the F models.
“The F/A-18E/F is the Super Hornet. To put it simply, if we are provided with the Super Hornet, it would be an excellent option, and then we can hope for the support of the United States, which has this type of aircraft in its arsenal. It is being phased out, and our units can be replenished from the stocks of the United States.”
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He added that Ukraine should not agree to the early models because “we would only receive a limited number of these aircraft for one (squadron), but we need to establish a complete infrastructure for their maintenance.”
“The early Hornet variants are not the path we should take, as maintenance issues will arise. It will require creating a full-fledged infrastructure for servicing. They have a different engine compared to the F-16. The armament is identical. The F-18 has a better radar. However, repair and maintenance concerns still remain,” Romanenko said.
He also said that the F/A-18 Hornet A++ is the most modernized version of the original Hornet, with the F model having twice the stealth capability and a better radar. At the same time, these aircraft use the same armaments.
On June 6, reports emerged in the media that Australia and the United States were discussing the possibility of transferring 41 F/A-18 Hornet aircraft to Ukraine. Australia would replace the aircraft with the more advanced F-35.
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U.S. news website Politico wrote that “dozens of old but operational F-18s are likely to be available for export” when Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and Finland transition to F-35 fighters.
The F/A-18 Hornet is classified as both a fighter and an attack aircraft. It has been in service since 1983 and has a combat radius of approximately 1,000 kilometers. The aircraft is capable of employing a wide range of weapons, including unguided Hydra70 and Zuni rockets, air-to-air AIM-120, AMRAAM, and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, air-to-ground AGM-88, HARM, Taurus, and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, and unguided Mark-80 and CBU-87 bombs, as well as guided bombs equipped with the JDAM system.
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