What exactly are the differences between the F/A-18E/F

[Hachiman]

Hi

I was under the impression that in older naval squadrons equipped with the hornet that most of the planes would be single seat A/C’s with a couple of 2 seater B/D’s thrown in. However with the Superhornet it seems whole squadrons have either single seater E’s or twin seater F’s.
I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference apart from the obvious 2nd person between the F/A-18E and F/A-18F. What can the 2 seater do that the 1 seater can’t apart from take half the job away from the pilot? And why have whole squadrons equipped with just the 1 type? Does that mean some squadrons are less mission capable than others?

Thanx

 

[Bonza]

Hi

I was under the impression that in older naval squadrons equipped with the hornet that most of the planes would be single seat A/C’s with a couple of 2 seater B/D’s thrown in. However with the Superhornet it seems whole squadrons have either single seater E’s or twin seater F’s.
I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference apart from the obvious 2nd person between the F/A-18E and F/A-18F. What can the 2 seater do that the 1 seater can’t apart from take half the job away from the pilot? And why have whole squadrons equipped with just the 1 type? Does that mean some squadrons are less mission capable than others?

Thanx

From what I understand the cockpits in the F/A-18F are decoupled, meaning the back seater can use their systems for a completely different activity to the pilot, so for example one could search for air threats while the other engages a ground target. I might be mistaken, but I think the AESA may play a part in this at times, as I doubt a conventional radar would allow both the pilot and back seater to make use of it for different roles at the same time. Happy to stand corrected on that though.

Here's are some links where the decoupled systems are mentioned (albeit briefly):

Super Hornet growing in export stature: AINonline

Avionics Magazine :: AESA’s Advantages

Some googling based on what's in the articles might reveal more. Hope that helps.

 

[Hachiman]

Thanx Bonza.

Appreciated

 

[winnyfield]

Some googling based on what's in the articles might reveal more. Hope that helps.

From a US naval aviator discussion site.

Single seat or two seat super hornets

 

[EscobarDriver]

Hi

I was under the impression that in older naval squadrons equipped with the hornet that most of the planes would be single seat A/C’s with a couple of 2 seater B/D’s thrown in. However with the Superhornet it seems whole squadrons have either single seater E’s or twin seater F’s.
I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference apart from the obvious 2nd person between the F/A-18E and F/A-18F. What can the 2 seater do that the 1 seater can’t apart from take half the job away from the pilot? And why have whole squadrons equipped with just the 1 type? Does that mean some squadrons are less mission capable than others?

Thanx

The idea behind single seat craft is to do more with less hence you see things like the F22 and F35 as single seaters.
The reality is that one person doing all the flying and all the weapons is very difficult and the single seaters have a higher mission failure rate. Two sets of eyes and split functionality in the cockpit mean better mission stats. I have a relative who's a back-seater in an 18-F. On deployment, their squadron had a 100% mission success rate; if they pulled the trigger, they hit it first go-around. The single seaters often had to do a 2nd pass to hit the target.

In most F's today, the radar is either air-to-air or air-to-ground so the aircraft can only do one thing. In this case, the back seater handles navigation, sensors, weapons selection, and targeting while the front seater flies the plane and pulls the trigger. In the next gen craft, the radar is both air-to-air and air-to-ground at the same time. The pilot will handle flying and air engagements and the back seater will drop the bombs.

The WSO (Weapons Systems Officer) is also a second set of eyes for ground ops (keep the plane handlers from driving the plane off the edge of the boat or into another plane) and in the air (looking for bad guys during dog fighting).

The back seat is a busy place and I don't know why every fighter/attack craft isn't a two seater.

 

[Hachiman]

Thanks for replies again. Very informative.

 

[Zaphael]

The idea behind single seat craft is to do more with less hence you see things like the F22 and F35 as single seaters.
The reality is that one person doing all the flying and all the weapons is very difficult and the single seaters have a higher mission failure rate. Two sets of eyes and split functionality in the cockpit mean better mission stats. I have a relative who's a back-seater in an 18-F. On deployment, their squadron had a 100% mission success rate; if they pulled the trigger, they hit it first go-around. The single seaters often had to do a 2nd pass to hit the target.

In most F's today, the radar is either air-to-air or air-to-ground so the aircraft can only do one thing. In this case, the back seater handles navigation, sensors, weapons selection, and targeting while the front seater flies the plane and pulls the trigger. In the next gen craft, the radar is both air-to-air and air-to-ground at the same time. The pilot will handle flying and air engagements and the back seater will drop the bombs.

The WSO (Weapons Systems Officer) is also a second set of eyes for ground ops (keep the plane handlers from driving the plane off the edge of the boat or into another plane) and in the air (looking for bad guys during dog fighting).

The back seat is a busy place and I don't know why every fighter/attack craft isn't a two seater.

I think your relative might be able to operate his radar in the A2G modes independently of the pilots A2A mode soon. I'm assuming his 18F was one of those that got the older mechanical APG-73s. The new AESA radars should allow the front seater and the back seater to work in both the A2A and A2G modes simultaneously.

IMO, the PILOT+WSO configuration is a force multiplier by maintaining situation awareness in complex missions. In single seaters, some really complex environment requires the pilot to be "heads down" to figure out whose who and where while talking to people etc. I think its at these moments, the pilot would kinda have "no peace" to do his job cos he's gonna be wondering what's out there, if someone's popping a shot at him, etc etc. Having a second guy who does the heads down work and the pilot to maintain the heads up work definitely does lots to alleviate those kinda situations. Given today's more complex and lethal battlefield environment, the two-seater is definitely a thumbs up.

Then again, you have these new F-35s coming up that would claim to reduce the pilot's task saturation with revolutionary technologies and gizmos. Oh well, I suppose the 2 seater vs 1 seater debate will continue for something.

 

[the road runner]

, the back seater handles navigation, sensors, weapons selection, and targeting while the front seater flies the plane and pulls the trigger. In the next gen craft, the radar is both air-to-air and air-to-ground at the same time. The pilot will handle flying and air engagements and the back seater will drop the bombs.

Just to add,the Back seater can also fly UAV..........