In 1991, the f/A-18 aircraft modernization program came out of the preliminary research stage. By this time the U.S. Navy has refused to continue work on the stealth carrier-based attack bomber "Mcdonnelldouglas/Boeing" A-12 "Avendzher", and the prospect of creating a carrier-based variant of the fighter NATF ("morecandy" the F-22) has become increasingly ephemeral. At the end of 1991, the US DOD decided to start in 1992, the preliminary design of the aircraft F/A-18E/F, soon received the name "Super Hornet". The new aircraft had to differ from its predecessor - F/A-18C/D wing with an increased area of 25% and 25 mm greater construction height in the root part. In addition, changes were made to the design of the air intake, the composition of avionics and weapons. For the aircraft it was supposed to create a new modification of the engine with thrust increased to 10,000 kg .
it was Supposed to increase the weight of the combat load, expand its range, 38% increase the range of the aircraft on ground targets, make the fighter during takeoff and landing less dependent on the speed and course of the ship, as well as wind force.
Due to the adoption of measures to reduce radar visibility, the minimum EPR of the aircraft in the course plane was planned to be reduced to 1.19 m2 (i.e. several times less compared to the f/A-18C fighter). At the same time, the maneuverability of the "Super Hornet" was not better than that of the fighter F/A-18C/D; the maximum permissible angle of attack, as on the f/A-18C, was limited to the value of 30-35 degrees.
