Dozens of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets accompanying the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) allow the US Navy to conduct deep strike missions in order to defeat any adversary.

The Ford CSG is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2) and assigned destroyers, and USS Normandy (CG-60).

The USS Ford is the US Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier with the ability to carry up to 90 aircraft, including 48 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

The Super Hornets provide air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike.

At the same time, they increase strike mission survivability and supplement the fleet air defense.

Primary strike aircraft

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the US Navy's primary strike and air superiority aircraft.

It is an updated version of the F-18C/D, featuring a 20% larger airframe.

The Super Hornet carries 33% more internal fuel, increasing mission range by 41% and endurance by 50% over the earlier Hornet.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet performs traditional missions of fighter escort, fleet air defense, interdiction and close air support, while still retaining excellent fighter and self-defense capabilities.

It can carry a variety of missiles including the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), Harpoon anti-ship missile, AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missile, Supersonic Low Altitude Missile (SLAM), and Maverick air-to-ground missiles, among others.

Each F/A-18E/F of CVW-8 can be equipped with nine missiles, which means that the entire wing could deliver 432 total missiles of all types within a short period if required.

Refueling capabilities

The Ford carrier group, alongside the US Air Force, brings unparalleled refueling capabilities for its aircraft and those of allies, enabling them to fly great distances beyond their given fuel range.

One such capability involves using F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets from the carrier's air wing to refuel other aircraft.

The Super Hornet can be equipped with an aerial refueling system or "buddy store" capable of containing a total of 13 tonnes of fuel on the aircraft.

The United Kingdom's F-35Bs, deployed from the HMS Queen Elizabeth, conducted an air-to-air refueling from a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet for the first time in October 2021.