to correct some of you out there. the f22 is a great jet, and the super fag is better than it in some ways. for instance, the angle of attack that the 18(e/f) can produce is just out of this world. if some of you will notice, the LEX on the super hornet is much larger than the older legacy. the f22 cost way too much money for the government to make mass quanities of it. now, someone mentioned about the "RAM", both jets have it! also, the hornet is much more solid than the f22. if a raptor were to land on a flight deck, it would fall to pieces. the hornets nose strut is about the size of the raptors main strut. but then again, the raptor would definitley shoot it outta the sky. are the raptors used as much as the super hornets....no. there is no need right now for such a futuristic fighter, its just the AF showing off

to sum this all up, the 18 is a much more mobile jet.