Due to Switzerland’s mountainous terrain with steep landing approaches at airfields such as Meiringen, the purchase of the F/A-18 Hornet in the mid-90s was against the trend of the ubiquitous F-16 used in the rest of Europe. This has proven to be a sound decision.
Now, in the second half of its service life, a successor is being considered by the Swiss Air Force, but we can expect to see Alpine Hornets until around 2030.
This book takes a look at the service of the Hornet since its introduction to the Swiss Air Force
in 1997.
Every Hornet is highlighted with at least a full-page portrait, some showing changes throughout its life.