Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

2021: US Navy copied "Russia's best fighter"

In mid-June 2021, the US Navy demonstrated the first F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft, painted on the model of the "best fighter of Russia" Su-57.

According to The Drive, the F/A-18E Super Hornet, copying the Russian Su-57 fighter, will serve as a conditional enemy. The American novelty with the call sign Ambush received a color scheme, known in Russia as the "White Shark."

US Navy copied the "best fighter of Russia" Su-57

The F/A-18E Super Hornet demonstration took place on June 18, 2021 at the Oceana Naval Air Base in Virginia. The US Navy reserve fighter squadron VFC-12 applies color schemes to its aircraft that allow them to look like modeled enemy opponents. These schemes are usually based on disguise from potentially dangerous countries, but one of the main goals is simply to allow them to differ from ordinary fleet aircraft. Battles with heterogeneous types are a critical factor to ensure that fleet crews can withstand an enemy with unfamiliar flight characteristics.

Since most of the Navy's strike fighter fleet consists of Super Hornet squadrons, visual difference from other aircraft is an important component in defense against opponents. VFC-12 pilots will also be instructed to control them in such a way as to simulate the actions of the enemy, therefore, although visually the aircraft are the same, the flight crew of the fleet can control differently.

While the VFC-12 receives Super Hornets, these fighters are not enough to replenish supplies for testing with high-end opponents. Thus, the US Navy plans to purchase 26 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. F-16s appear in the budget request for fiscal year 2022.

In March 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the winners of the Leaders of Russia contest, said that the fifth-generation Russian multifunctional Su-57 fighters are the best in the world.^[1]

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