A F18 Super Hornet creates a vapor cone as it flies at a transonic speed while doing a flyby of the USS Eisenhower off the coast of Virginia, in the Atlantic Ocean, December 10, 2015. Carter visited the carrier with Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to demonstrate U.S. Navy aircraft carrier flight operations. REUTERS/Mark Wilson/Pool 

A U.S. Navy crew member maintains a F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter a hangar deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy crew member wipes a window of a F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter prepares for take off from the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter lands onto the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy crew member guides a F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters to take off from the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter lands on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy crew member looks at a F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters landing onto the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter approaches the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 

An F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter plane lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during flight operations in the Gulf, ahead of a transit through the Strait of Hormuz, February 13, 2012. Picture taken February 13, 2012. REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh (GULF - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY TRANSPORT) 

A naval crewman walks next to U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters on the deck of U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington during its routine port visit to Hong Kong November 9, 2011. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

Naval crewmen stand next to U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters on the deck of U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington, during its routine port visit to Hong Kong November 9, 2011. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet takes off from the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea in the West Sea November 30, 2010. The nuclear-powered carrier, which has 75 warplanes and a crew of more than 6,000, is taking part in around-the-clock drills in waters west of the Korean peninsula but well south of the sea border disputed by the North. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet takes off from the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during a joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea in the West Sea November 30, 2010.The nuclear-powered USS George Washington, which has 75 warplanes and a crew of more than 6,000, is taking part in around-the-clock drills in waters west of the Korean peninsula but well south of the sea border disputed by the North. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: MILITARY TRANSPORT) 

U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets are seen on the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier amidst foggy conditions during joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea in the West Sea November 30, 2010. The nuclear-powered USS George Washington, which has 75 warplanes and a crew of more than 6,000, is taking part in around-the-clock drills in waters west of the Korean peninsula but well south of the sea border disputed by the North. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet prepares to take off from the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier during joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea in the West Sea November 30, 2010.The nuclear-powered USS George Washington, which has 75 warplanes and a crew of more than 6,000, is taking part in around-the-clock drills in waters west of the Korean peninsula but well south of the sea border disputed by the North. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) 

A F/A 18E Super Hornet on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan taxis on deck before take off during the RIMPAC naval exercises 50 miles (80 km) south of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, July 6, 2010. RIMPAC consists of 14 nations around the Pacific Rim that train together during the multi-lateral military exercise. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

U.S. Navy crew members on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan watch as a F/A 18E Super Hornet lands during flight operations during the RIMPAC naval exercises 50 miles (80 km) south of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, July 6, 2010. RIMPAC consists of 14 nations around the Pacific Rim that train together during the multi-lateral military exercise. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY) BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY) BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (11 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH) 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (9 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (7 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A ring of water vapor is created as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (6 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH) 

A ring of water vapor begins to form as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (5 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH) 

A ring of water vapor begins to form as pilots Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. The phenomenon is created when the plane, travelling at low altitudes over water, approaches the speed of sound and the pressure created by the forward sound waves squeezes moisture in the air to form a ball of cloud over the front of the aircraft. (2 of 11) REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY SCI TECH) 

A ring of water vapour is created around pilot Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) as they fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. Picture taken May 23, 2009. REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY) FOR BEST QUALITY SEE: GM1E5620DXN01 

A ring of water vapour is created around pilot Lt. Justin Halligan (L) and Lt. Michael Witt (R) as they fly their F/A-18F Super Hornet airplane within 200mph of breaking the sound barrier while performing at New York Air Show at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York, May 23, 2009. Picture taken May 23, 2009. REUTERS/Christopher Pasatieri (UNITED STATES TRANSPORT MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY) FOR BEST QUALITY SEE: GM1E5620DXS01 

A F/A-18E Super Hornet of the Strike Fighter Squadron 31, known as the Tomcatters, conducts an arrested landing onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea December 3, 2008. Picture taken December 3, 2008. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed (ARABIAN SEA) 

A F/A-18C Super Hornet taxis its way off the runway as another F/A-18C Hornet prepares to land on board the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Sea December 3, 2008. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed (ARABIAN SEA) 

A U.S Navy personnel cleans the hatch of a F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft aboard the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier in the Bay of Bengal September 7, 2007. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA) 

U.S. naval F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft fly past over the USS Kitty Hawk during wargames with navies of India, Japan, Australia and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal September 7, 2007. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA) 

A F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Black Knights of Strike Fighter Squadron 154 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) combat direction center in central Gulf May 26, 2007. Stennis started flying missions in support of ground forces in Iraq and participated in the expeditionary strike forces exercise involving three strike groups. REUTERS/Hamad I. Mohammed (BAHRAIN) 

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 jet fighters fly over a World War II memorial as part of a ceremony in Sydney April 17, 2007 for the funeral of Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes, one of Australia's most highly decorated World War II pilots. The planes formed a 'Missing Man' formation above the church where the memorial service for Gibbes was held, with one plane pulling to a steep climb as three others flew on. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA) 

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 F Super Hornet flies behind an Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft above Melbourne March 19, 2007. The Super Hornet is in Australia to participate in the 2007 Australian International Air Show to be held between March 20 and March 22. Earlier this month, the Australian Government announced it would be acquiring one squadron of Super Hornets. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA) 

A pilot takes a photograph of an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron Two Seven (VFA-27) as it prepares to land on the flight deck aboard the conventionally-powered aircraft USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during Exercise Valiant Shield 2006, in the Philippine Sea, June 22, 2006. Valiant Shield focuses on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces, enabling real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces and in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY REUTERS/Joshua Wayne LeGrand/U.S. Navy/Handout 

- PHOTO TAKEN 11MAY06 - U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets conduct a fly by of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on May 11, 2006 during a training exercise.
??? USE ONLY 

U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets conduct a fly by of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on May 11, 2006 during a training exercise. Picture taken May 11, 2006. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
REUTERS/Lt. Anthony Dobson-US Navy/Handout (UNITED STATES) 

US actor Josh Lucas, a passenger in an F-18 Super Hornet, arrives at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado. U.S. actor Josh Lucas, a passenger in an F-18 Super Hornet, arrives at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California July 17, 2005 for the premier of Columbia Pictures' motion picture "Stealth". The film is about an elite squadron of pilots who embark on a mission to neutralize an out-of-control prototype drone fighter plane equipped with artificial intelligence. REUTERS/Mike Blake 

A F/A 18F Super Hornet makes its landing approach to the deck of USS Carl Vinson at the Arabian Gulf June 9, 2005. U.S. fighter planes are providing air support for Iraqi and U.S. military ground operations in Iraq. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed. HM/TZ 

An F/A-18E Super Hornet flies past the moon above the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) aircraft carrier in the Gulf, March 15, 2003. [The USS Abraham Lincoln, now on its 238th day of deployment, is one of three, eight-ship battle groups operating in the Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch patrolling the southern 'no-fly' zone over Iraq.] 

An F/A-18E Super Hornet flies past the moon above the USS Abraham
Lincoln (CVN 72) aircraft carrier in the Gulf, March 15, 2003. The USS
Abraham Lincoln, now on its 238th day of deployment, is one of three,
eight-ship battle groups operating in the Gulf in support of Operation
Southern Watch patrolling the southern 'no-fly' zone over Iraq.
REUTERS/John Schults

JES/CRB 

An F18 super Hornet comes in to land on the deck of the U.S. aircraft
carrier USS Nimitz January 28, 2003. The Nimitz, and a battle group of
15 ships and submarines are 100 miles off the coast of California and
on the final days of a three week accelerated training exercise to
expedite their battle group's availability for deployment. REUTERS/Mike
Blake

MB/ME 

An F/A-18E Super Hornet is catapulted off the flight deck of the USS
Abraham Lincoln CVN-72, behind a F/A-18C Hornet, November 10, 2002. The
carrier is currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf, to support the
Operation Southern Watch. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

HM/WS 

An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the VFA-115 "Eagles" squadron lands aboard
the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the North
Arabian Sea on October 15, 2002. Ships from the Lincoln Battle Group
are in the region to support Operation Enduring Freedom. REUTERS/Chip
East

CME 

-FILE PHOO- The U.S. Navy's newest strike fighter, the F/A-18E "Super Hornet," is shown as it successfully completed its first in-flight tests with ordnance in this February 21, 1997 photo released by the Navy April 7. Pentagon officials announced April 3 that the Navy has developed and applied a cost-effective porous wing-fold fairing that corrects the in-flight phenomenon reported as "wing drop." 

The U.S. Navy's newest strike-fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E "Super Hornet" successfully completed its first in-flight tests with ordonance, February 21. The weapons package consisted of two 2,000lbs bombs, two AGM 88 Anti-Radiation missiles, and two AIM 9 Heat Seeking Sidewider missiles. The "Super Hornet" replaces the A-6 "Intruder," which will end active naval service on February 28, and is the future programmed replacement for the F-14 "Tomcat".