The F/A-18 Hornet was developed for the US Navy and has since proved moderately successful on the export market with US allies and partners. Outside the US, it is mostly used as a land-based fighter jet. The F/A-18 Hornet was later upgraded to the much more capable and modernized F/A-18 Super Hornet. Fewer countries ordered the Super Hornet - partly because they (e.g., the US Marines, Australia, Finland, Canada) opted to upgrade to F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets. The era of the Super Hornet is soon to turn a new chapter as the Navy has placed its final orders and begins to transition to the F-35C fighter. These are the eight countries that operate the Hornet and Super Hornet.

1 United States

The US has around 931 Hornet family jets

The largest operator of the F/A-18 Hornet family is the United States. The Navy has retired the Hornet and now only operates the Super Hornet (along with its electronic warfare variant, the EA-18G Growler). The Marine Corps continues to operate the older Hornet (along with the aging STOVL McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II). The Marines are progressively retiring its fleets of Hornets and Harriers as it transitions to the much more capable F-35B and F-35C Lightning II fighter jets.

The Navy is still purchasing Super Hornets but has likely placed its last order for them. Barring any new export orders, 👁 Image
Boeing is expected to shut down its production line for the Super Hornet once these are fulfilled. In the mid or late 2030s, the Navy hopes to replace its remaining Super Hornets with the sixth-generation F/A-XX currently under development.

2 Australia

Australia has 36 Hornet family jets

Australia currently operates 24 Super Hornets and 12 electronic warfare EA-18G Growlers. Part of the reason for Australia purchasing Super Hornets was as a stop-gap measure resulting from delays of the F-35A Lightning II. Australia wanted to ensure there wasn't a capability gap as its aging Hornets were retired. Australia has now fully divested of its old Hornets, with 18 sold to Canada, some on display in museums, and the rest sitting in a warehouse in Guam (per the latest update).

The Royal Australian Air Force states, "The F/A-18F Super Hornets achieved Final Operational Capability (FOC) in December 2012 and are based at Number 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley. The twin seat F/A-18F Super Hornet can undertake: air interception, air combat, close air support of ground troops, and interception of enemy supply lines including shipping."

3 Canada

Canada has 92 Hornets

The Royal Canadian Air Force has received 98 CF-18A and 40 CF-18B Hornets - a total of 138 jets. Of these, 72 CF-18As and 31 CF-18Bs remain in inventory, giving Canada an active Canadian-model Hornet fleet of 85 aircraft (designated CF-188 Hornet). Canada purchased 18 ex-Australian Hornets for parts in an effort to keep its aging fleet of Hornets flying (it seems around 7 of the Australian airframes are in service with the rest stripped for parts). This means Canada has a total fleet of around 92 Hornets.

The Canadian Air Force states, "The CF-188 Hornet, commonly called the CF-18, is a multi-role fighter aircraft. It is used for air defence, air superiority, ground attack, tactical support, training, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation." Canada has selected 88 F-35As to eventually replace its tired fleet of Hornets. The first of these is expected to arrive in 2026.

4 Finland

Finland has 62 Hornets

Finland (now a member of NATO) is another operator of the aging F/A-18 Hornet. Finland has 62 Hornets remaining in service (including seven for training). These are also set to be replaced by 64 F-35A Lightning IIs. Having learned from the Winter War of 1940 and having Russia as a neighbor, Finland's air force is designed to be able to disperse and operate from widened stretches of highway and other places around the country. US F-35As recently landed and took off from Finnish highways (the USAF also seeks to be more agile and operate from dispersed bases.

The Finnish Air Force states, "In a time of crisis, the Hornets are set to execute defensive counter-air operations to protect the nation's vital assets, civilian population, and operations conducted by all services against air attacks. The aircraft is also tasked to support joint operations with long-range standoff weapons... Hornets can be deployed to operate from dispersed highway strips."

5 Kuwait

Kuwait has 27 Hornets

Kuwait is one of the closest US partners in the Persian Gulf, and its liberation was the focus of Operation Desert Storm. Back in 1990, Kuwait had a token air force; now, it operates 27 older Hornets and has placed an order for another 32 new Super Hornets. Additionally, Kuwait has ordered and is taking delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

While Kuwait is a major non-NATO US ally, the US is unlikely willing to sell its F-35 fighter jets to the Gulf state. The US has refused or reneged on previous agreements to sell F-35s to Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt (and likely Saudi Arabia). The US is extremely protective of the technology on the F-35 and has a policy of maintaining Israel's technological edge in the region.

6 Switzerland

Switzerland has 30 Hornets

Switzerland has famously maintained a policy of armed neutrality for a long time - this means Switzerland has long maintained a powerful military for its size. The Swiss Air Force has 30 Hornets in service (five of which are double-seater training variants). Switzerland is currently replacing its legacy Hornets with 36 F-35A fighter jets - some of which will be assembled in Switzerland. Additionally, Switzerland has 18 Northrop F-5E light fighters.

Switzerland has a reasonably large defense industry and is a significant arms exporter. One of its most notable military aircraft is the Pilatus PC-21 advanced trainer, which has been selected by many countries around the world (most recently Canada). Pilatus also makes other training aircraft, like the Pilatus PC-9, as well as business jets.

7 Spain

Spain has around 83 Hornets

Spain maintains one of the largest fleets of F/A-18 Hornets outside of the United States. The Spanish Air Force has 83 Hornets, including 20 ex-US Navy Hornets that didn't receive any significant upgrades (these are based in the Canary Islands). Spanish Hornets have participated in a number of campaigns, including in the 1990s conflicts in former Yugoslavia.

Additionally, Spain has 68 Eurofighter Typhoons in service, with another 20 on order. In 2023, Janes stated that Spain was not interested in purchasing F-35s to replace its Hornets and its Navy's McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier IIs - instead, it was planning to purchase more Typhoons. However, in 2024, there was reporting that Spain may acquire 25 F-35As and 25 F-35Bs to replace its aging aircraft. Italy is retiring its Harriers, and the Marines are set to retire theirs in the next couple of years, leaving Spain as the last operator of the type.

8 Malaysia

Malaysia has eight Hornets

Malaysia has long enjoyed a close relationship with the United States (although it is not a major non-NATO ally). The Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a small fleet of eight Hornets - the smallest fleet in the world. According to recent reporting, Malaysia is finalizing a contract to purchase the older Hornets that Kuwait is planning to retire after it receives its replacement Super Hornets. Kuwait has 27 older Hornets, and it is unclear if Malaysia is planning to purchase some of them or all of them. Malaysia (along with Spain) appear to be the only Hornet operators with not set plans on their replacement.

Highlighting Malaysia's more complicated relationships, it also operates a fleet of 18 Russian-supplied Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets (an updated variant of the Su-27 Flanker). Malaysia also has 12 light multirole British Aerospace Hawk 200 fighters and 18 South Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle light combat/advanced trainers on order, meaning it has four types of combat aircraft from four countries.