Putting the "Big Sting" on the Super Hornet!
VX-9 Perfects Next-Generation Weapons Systems for US Navy Strike Fighters
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Date: Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
Reception: 5:00 - 6:30pm
VX9 Presentation; 6:30 - 8:30pm
Admission Charge: $10 (Students with valid ID Free)
Reception: $10
RSVP No Later Than Monday, March 12th to Gail Brenner, 619.234.8291 ext 19.
Registration for this event is now closed.
CAPT Bruce Fecht, Commanding Officer of the VX-9 Vampires, the U.S. Navy's premier and sole operational test and evaluation squadron, is bringing his top test and evaluation squadron pilots to the San Diego Air & Space Museum on Wednesday evening March 14th 2007 to tell us why they take a personal interest in perfecting the latest air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons for U.S. Navy Strike Fighters.
Fecht is a Top Gun graduate and combat veteran who led the U.S. Navy's first strike against the Taliban and al-Qaeda training bases in Afghanistan during the opening night of operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, so he knows that in combat your life depends upon having the best weapons on your aircraft. Having confronted the Taliban as a tip-of-the-spear fighter pilot, no one is more qualified to discuss how vital accurate and effective U.S. Navy aircraft weapons are in protecting America.
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet now is the U.S. Navy's first-line strike fighter aircraft, intended to bring war to the enemy quickly and accurately, and it's the principal combat aircraft flown by VX-9. They also fly the EA6B Prowler, the AV8B Harrier and several other combat aircraft. Super Hornet is an advanced version of the original F/A-18A Hornet, has a 25 percent larger wing, 35 percent more powerful engines and carries ten percent more fuel. Super Hornet also has considerably more weapons carrying capacity. It has a stealthier radar profile, two extra wing hard-points to carry weapons and several aerodynamic improvements. Its four-channel fly-by-wire control system has been modified for improved low speed maneuverability and spin resistance, along with reduced pilot workload.
As the San Diego Air & Space Museum's featured guest speakers on March 14th, Fecht and his project team leaders will explain how VX-9 readies the latest air-to-ground smart bombs for use by U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role Strike Fighters. For strike missions, the aircraft can deliver a wide variety of weapons on target, including 2,000 lb GPS or laser-guided smart bombs, 100-mile range SLAM-ER [standoff land attack missile - expanded response], Harpoon anti-ship missile, HARM [high-speed anti-radiation missile] that knocks out fire control radars, laser-guided Maverick air-to-ground anti-armor / anti-tank missile and Paveway II laser-guided bomb, among others. Super Hornet also is fitted with the 20 mm, 6,000 rounds-per-minute M61A2 Vulcan Gatling gun cannon. To defend U.S. Navy ships against air attacks, the Super Hornet carries the latest generation fire-and-forget AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared seeking air-to-air missile and the Mach 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM [advanced medium range air-to-air missile] that can hit targets more than 30 miles away.
In addition to a look at our Navy and Marine Corps' air superiority aircraft now and for the next 20 years, hear Captain Fecht and his team discuss plans for introduction of the next generation strike fighter aircraft, the F/A35, Joint Strike Fighter. As this new aircraft is introduced as a multi-service joint program, a new 'schematic' to aircraft and systems testing and basing is being developed. Be on the inside of this emerging story.
Saturday, March 17th, 2007
The San Diego Air & Space Museum regrets to announce that the VX-9 Static Display scheduled for Saturday at Lindbergh Field has been cancelled due to U.S. Navy Operational Requirements. The presentation by VX-9 squadron personnel will occur as scheduled on 14 March, 2007 (please see details above). We apologize for any inconvenience.