Author: Yuri does not take revenge today, and it is forbidden to reprint without permission
On the last day of November, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) made a announcement. They announced on social media that the U.S.-made Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18A/B "Classic) Hornet" multi-purpose fighter attack aircraft, which has served in the country's Air Force for 36 years, took off and landed for the last time at raaf Williamtown base on the afternoon of November 30, and this news will make The U.S. mercenary bosses across the ocean ecstatic.
The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine medium carrier-based fighter. In the U.S. family of four-generation fighters (we call them third-generation aircraft), the Hornet, which first flew in 1978, was developed on the basis of the YF-17 "Cobra" that lost to the YF-16 in the U.S. Air Force Light Fighter (LWF) program, and first flew a little later than the F-15, F-14 and F-16, until 1983 and 1984, when the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy began to equip the Hornet, and initially gave the F-14 a "hand" on the aircraft carrier.
Photo: Commemorative livery before decommissioning
As a close ally of the United States, Australia was the first foreign user to receive the Hornet. As early as 1981, the Royal Australian Air Force selected the Hornet to succeed the French Dassault Mirage III fighter jet, purchasing a total of 75 aircraft, including 57 single-seat F/A-18As and 18 two-seat F/A-18Bs, at a cost of $2.4 billion, which began to be delivered in 1984 and trained pilots in the United States, and were delivered between 1985 and 1990.
Image: Twin pylon mounts AIM-120
During the 36 years of service, these Australian "bumblebees" can be said to be the southern conquest of the northern war. In the 1991 Gulf War, the 2001 US-led coalition attack on Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq War, as a hardcore member of the Anglo-Saxon and "Five Eyes Alliance", Australia participated in the war, these "Hornet" fighters, until the previous two years, also carried out bombing missions against extremist groups in Iraq.
Image: Australian bumblebee deployed in Iraq two years ago
In recent years, the Australian Air Force has served 24 larger and more advanced F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters and 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, and the 72 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters ordered for purchase, the latest claim has been delivered as many as 44, so in March last year, the Australian Ministry of Defense announced that it would sell the remaining 46 Hornets to an American air combat training company called Air USA, which is actually a typical one." Mercenaries", of the 46 Hornets, 36 were airworthy.
Image: Australian "bumblebee" vs. "super bumblebee", the latter significantly enlarged
"Air USA" is one of many military contractors (mercenaries) companies in the United States that provide "imaginary enemy" sparring services for the U.S. military, headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, and the owner is named Dan. Don Kirlin, the owner of the real estate business is very discerning, as early as 1994 to think of forming their own private air force, the purchase of czech L-39 "Albatross" trainer aircraft, and even 4 MiG-29s from special channels, these "fulcrums" are the largest number of private bosses in the United States.
Image: Air USA's MiG-29
Colin fancyd Australia's Hornet because the "color" of these fighters was very good.
Although the flight life has been relatively short, but the fighter has undergone a variety of upgrades, the airborne fire control radar is better than the earliest Hornet APG-65 APG-73, can use the Imperial ASRAAM advanced fighting air-to-air missile, the joint helmet display system, link16 data link and the new airborne mission computer is not lacking, the Hornet uses a twin mid-range bomb mount, can carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles (2 ASRAAM in the wing tip, 2 AIM-120 between the ribs), The firepower is fierce.
Image: Australian bumblebee awaiting disposal
The most important thing is that the price is still very cheap.
Prior to this, the Australian Air Force had sold 25 Hornets to Canada to make up for the gap in the same type of aircraft, because after Trudeau came to power, the United States was in an awkward situation, Bombardier and Airbus merger made Boeing angry, so for the time being, do not buy F-35s, these "Hornets" are said to only 90 million Canadian dollars ($70 million), less than $3 million, what bicycles.
Image: Some australian "bumblebees" have been sold to Canada
At the end of 2019, the US Department of Defense announced that it would award contracts of more than $6 billion to 7 "private air forces" including Air USA, Air Tactical Advantage (ATAC), and "Dragen International", which made Colin's eyes shine directly, which is why other US "private air force" bosses want to buy F-16s, and more and more fourth-generation aircraft armed to the teeth are replaced by civilian status and "sparring" The real reason.
Image: ATAC looted dozens of Dassault Mirage F-1s from Spain and other countries
Businessmen, no profit, no sooner, no country is the same.