Aircraft comparison
F-16 Fighting Falcon vs F/A-18 Super Hornet
A single-engine land-based fighter against a twin-engine carrier fighter. Compared on design, speed, range and cost, from US Air Force and US Navy figures.
Updated October 2026 · 2 minute read
Is the F-16 better than the F/A-18?
It depends on whether you need an aircraft carrier. The F-16 is a single-engine, land-based multirole fighter that the US Air Force lists at Mach 2 at altitude. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine fighter built for carrier decks; the US Navy gives its speed as Mach 1.8+ and Boeing gives Mach 1.6. The F-16 is the faster aircraft on either figure.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Top speed · Single-engine design
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Carrier operation · Twin engines · Two-seat option
F-16 vs F/A-18 specifications
F-16 figures are for the F-16C/D, from the US Air Force. F/A-18 figures are for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, from the US Navy. The Navy and Boeing give different top speeds for the Super Hornet; both are shown.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Advantage
Role
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Multirole
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Carrier multirole
Advantage
Different by design
First flight
F-16 Fighting Falcon
1974 (YF-16), 1976 (F-16A)
F/A-18 Super Hornet
1995
Advantage
—
In service
F-16 Fighting Falcon
1979
F/A-18 Super Hornet
1999
Advantage
—
Top speed
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Mach 2 (2,414 km/h)
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Mach 1.8+ (US Navy), Mach 1.6 (Boeing)
Advantage
F-16
Supercruise
F-16 Fighting Falcon
None
F/A-18 Super Hornet
None
Advantage
—
Service ceiling
F-16 Fighting Falcon
15,240 m
F/A-18 Super Hornet
15,240 m
Advantage
Even
Combat radius
F-16 Fighting Falcon
546 km
F/A-18 Super Hornet
722 km
Advantage
F/A-18
Engines
F-16 Fighting Falcon
1 × Pratt & Whitney F100 or GE F110
F/A-18 Super Hornet
2 × General Electric F414
Advantage
—
Thrust vectoring
F-16 Fighting Falcon
No
F/A-18 Super Hornet
No
Advantage
—
Radar cross-section
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Conventional
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Reduced
Advantage
F/A-18
Sensor fusion
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Upgraded on later blocks
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Advanced (AESA, Block III)
Advantage
F/A-18
Air-to-ground
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Primary role
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Primary role
Advantage
Even
Carrier capable
F-16 Fighting Falcon
No
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Yes
Advantage
F/A-18
Short take-off
F-16 Fighting Falcon
No
F/A-18 Super Hornet
No
Advantage
—
Cost per unit
F-16 Fighting Falcon
$18.8 million (FY1998)
F/A-18 Super Hornet
$67.4 million (FY2021)
Advantage
—
Number built
F-16 Fighting Falcon
4,600+
F/A-18 Super Hornet
600+
Advantage
F-16
Exportable
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Yes, 26 air forces
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Yes (Australia, Kuwait)
Advantage
F-16
Combat record
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Extensive, many conflicts
F/A-18 Super Hornet
Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen
Advantage
—
Design
The F-16 has one engine of 27,000 pounds thrust and a fly-by-wire system that relays the pilot's commands through electrical wires. The pilot flies it with a side stick controller from a seat reclined at 30 degrees instead of the usual 13.
The Super Hornet has two F414 engines of 22,000 pounds static thrust each. It comes as the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F, and Boeing calls it the backbone of carrier air wings.
Winner
Speed and altitude
The US Air Force lists the F-16 at 2,414 km/h (1,500 mph), or Mach 2 at altitude, with a ceiling above 15 kilometres (50,000 feet).
For the Super Hornet the sources disagree. The US Navy's fact file says Mach 1.8+; Boeing's own page gives a maximum speed of Mach 1.6. Both put its ceiling at 15,240+ metres (50,000+ feet).
Winner
Range and weapons
The published range figures are not like for like. The Air Force quotes a ferry range for the F-16 of more than 3,222 km (1,740 nautical miles). The Navy quotes a combat range for the Super Hornet of 2,346 kilometres (1,275 nautical miles), clean plus two AIM-9s.
The F-16 carries a 20mm cannon with 500 rounds and up to six air-to-air missiles on its external stations. The Navy lists the Super Hornet's missions as air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, close air support, air defence suppression and precision strike.
Winner
Cost and service dates
The US Air Force gives the F-16C/D a unit cost of $18.8 million in fiscal year 1998 constant dollars. The US Navy gives the Super Hornet $67.4 million in fiscal year 2021 dollars. The two are not on the same basis, so they show a gap without measuring it.
The F-16A first flew in December 1976 and reached its first operational unit in January 1979. The Super Hornet first flew in November 1995, entered fleet service in 1999 and reached initial operational capability in September 2001.
Winner
How the two differ
One engine or two
The F-16 is a single-engine design. The Super Hornet has two engines and was built to operate from aircraft carriers.
Two decades apart
The first operational F-16A was delivered in 1979. The Super Hornet entered fleet service in 1999.
What the Super Hornet replaced
The Super Hornet entered US Navy service as the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat.
Can a civilian fly either aircraft?
No. Both are frontline military aircraft, and Jetify does not offer flights in either.
Jetify's flights use ex-military jets instead. See the fighter jet flights page for the aircraft and locations currently listed.
F-16 vs F/A-18 questions
Is the F-16 better than the F/A-18 Super Hornet?
Whether the F-16 or the F/A-18 Super Hornet is better depends on whether you need an aircraft carrier. The F-16 is a single-engine, land-based multirole fighter. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has two engines and was built to fly from carrier decks.
Which is faster, the F-16 or the F/A-18 Super Hornet?
The F-16 is faster than the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The US Air Force lists the F-16 at Mach 2 at altitude. For the Super Hornet, the US Navy gives a top speed of Mach 1.8+ and Boeing gives Mach 1.6.
Which costs more, the F-16 or the F/A-18 Super Hornet?
The F/A-18 Super Hornet costs more than the F-16. The US Navy gives the Super Hornet a unit cost of $67.4 million in fiscal year 2021 dollars, while the US Air Force gives the F-16C/D $18.8 million in fiscal year 1998 dollars. The figures are on different bases, so the gap is indicative only.
Can the F-16 operate from an aircraft carrier?
No, the F-16 cannot operate from an aircraft carrier, because it is a land-based fighter. The F/A-18 Super Hornet was built for carrier operations, and Boeing calls it the backbone of carrier air wings.
What did the F/A-18 Super Hornet replace?
The F/A-18 Super Hornet replaced the F-14 Tomcat in US Navy service. The Super Hornet entered fleet service in 1999 and reached initial operational capability in September 2001.
How many engines do the F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet have?
The F-16 has one engine and the F/A-18 Super Hornet has two. The F-16’s single engine produces 27,000 pounds of thrust, while the Super Hornet’s two General Electric F414 engines produce 22,000 pounds of static thrust each.
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