The F/A-18 Hornet is a development of the Northrop YF-17 that had been
built to be evaluated by the U.S. Air Force lightweight fighter
competition in the early 1970s. McDonnell Douglas teamed with
Northrop to modify the aircraft to meet a U.S. Navy requirement.
The first F/A-18 (fighter/attack) flew in 1978 with the first
operational delivery occurring in 1980. The Hornet is the U.S. Navy's
current front line fighter and attack aircraft replacing the F-4 and
A-7.
The Hornet has been purchased by Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait,
Spain and Switzerland.
