McDonnell Douglas C-15 Hornet (EF-18A) Aircraft Data
Photo ID 33432 by Rainer Mueller. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 44
Single-seat, all weather, multirole, fighter-bomber.

The EF-18A is the Spanish designation for the Boeing F/A-18A 'Hornet', though they are known locally as C.15 and CE.15's. Spain initially took delivery of their Hornets in later November, 1985. Eventually, 55 single-seat EF-18A's (C.15) and 12 EF-18B's (CE.15) were delivered. 24 additional ex-U.S. Navy F/A-18A's were procured during 1995-1999.

All Spanish Hornets were updated to '+' (plus) standards, encompassing many of the improvements contained in the F/A-18C/D models Hornets. In the Ejercito del Aire, the C.15 is primarily an air defense fighter, but also serves in a close air support capcity. The Eurofighter Typhoon (C.16) will eventually replace the EF-18 fleet in Spanish service.
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • First Flight: 1978
  • Initial Service Date: 1983
  • No. Built: 1,458
  • No. In Service: 1,400 (approx.)
  • No. of Hardpoints: 9
  • Crew: 1

Power:

2x General Electric F404-400 afterburning turbofans at 32,000 lbf

Weapons:

1 x 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (570 rounds)
AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM
AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-62 Walleye, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84 SLAM, AGM-84 SLAM-ER, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-123 Skipper, AGM-154 JSOW
GBU-10/12/24/51 Paveway laser-guided, GBU-15 EO-guided, GBU-29/30/31/32/35 JDAM, Mk82/83/84 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, BLU-107 Durandal, CBU-59 cluster

Dimensions:

Length: 56 in.
Wing Span: 37.50 in.
Wing Area: 400 sq.ft
Height: 15.25 in.
Empty Weight: 37.50 lbs
Max. Weight: 56,000 lbs
Max. Ordnance Load: 15,500 lbs
Internal Fuel: 10,860 lbs

Performance:

Max. Speed: 1,190 mph
Normal Range: 800 nm
Max. Range: 1,800 nm

Operators:

F/A-18A: Australia (Royal Australian Air Force), Canada (Canadian Armed Forces), Spain, (Ejército del Aire Española), United States (NASA, Navy Reserve sqdns, Marine Corps)

Random great photos of the McDonnell Douglas C-15 Hornet (EF-18A):

Photo ID 258445 by Photography JC la Palma. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 40
Photo ID 73973 by Fernando Sousa. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 28
Photo ID 42211 by Lieuwe Hofstra. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 44
Photo ID 29367 by Tom Gibbons. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 43
Photo ID 23547 by Ian Heald. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 34
Photo ID 12803 by Cristian Schrik. Spain Air Force McDonnell Douglas C 15 Hornet EF 18A, C 15 66
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