Here’s Why The US Navy Chose The F/A-18 Super Hornet Over A Dedicated Fleet Air Defense Fighter

In the past, the US Navy operated dedicated air superiority fighter jets, most famously the F-14 Tomcat, but also older designs like variants of the F-4 Phantom II. However, today the US Navy relies heavily on the F/A-18 Super Hornet as it introduces a growing fleet of much more capable F-35C fighter jets. The Navy wanted to have an air superiority fighter jet to replace its aging Tomcats, but the collapse of the USSR changed the threat environment, and budget cuts meant it was seen as a luxury the Navy could not afford.