Kunyange zvazvo YF-16 akahwina LWF makwikwi, Navy akanga asina chokwadi kuti ndege chete injini uye yakatetepa kumhara giya aigona nyore kana zvoupfumi kuchinjwa kuti mutakuri basa, uye akaramba kushandisa F-16 rinobva. On 2 May 1975, Navy akazivisa kusarudzwa kwayo pamusoro YF-17. Sezvo LWF haana kugoverana magadzirirwo zvinodiwa VFAX, Navy akakumbira McDonnell Douglas uye Northrop kukudziridza ndege itsva kubva magadzirirwo uye nheyo YF-17. On 1 March 1977, Munyori Navy W. Graham Claytor akazivisa kuti F-18 yaizonzi "Hornet".
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