Bigger and heavier than its F/A-18 predecessor, the Super Hornet actually has fewer parts and is easier to maintain. It is the product of innovative thinking and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. Since initial concept development in the late 1980s, the Super Hornet program has continually challenged conventional thinking and established ways of doing business. The aircraft was designed to provide the U.S. Navy with greater payload, better payload "bringback," increased survivability, room for growth and greater range than the combat-proven F/A-18, which was produced in A/B and C/D models.