It was designed from the outset to be capable of multiple roles - as an air-to-air fighter, or for ground attack or reconnaissance. A key goal was "big R little m" - high reliability and low maintenance.

The navy says it proved itself in the Gulf War - shooting down enemy fighters on the way to its target, hitting the target, and breaking records for reliability.

Extensive use of composite materials - plastics - make it strong but light. It has "fly-by-wire" controls - a computer system interprets the pilot's control stick and rudder pedal movements and operates the aircraft's control surfaces.

The two-seat D version is the main night attack aircraft, introduced in 1987. The pilot and weapons system officer have night vision goggles.

The plane has equipment to deliver laser-guided bombs, an infra-red camera, radar that maps the ground ahead, and a screen which displays a colour "moving map" of the territory it is flying over.

Its two jet engines can push it to 1.8 times the speed of sound.

One shortcoming is the plane's range. It is highly dependent on in-flight refuelling to go more than a few hundred miles with a typical weapon load.

This was one of the main reasons for the development of a new, bigger E/F version. This "Super Hornet" has significantly greater range and carrying capacity.