The F/A-18E Super Hornet is the fifth variant of the F/A-18 built by McDonnell Douglas and first to be built by Boeing. Originally first flown by McDonnell Douglas in 1995, when Boeing bought the company, the Super Hornet was produced by the Boeing Company instead.
The Super Hornet entered service in 1999 and was first operated in fleet in 2002 by VFA-115. The Super Hornet first saw action in Operation Southern Watch with the same squadron before taking part in the 2003 Iraq War.