[Vinnie]

Can the F-18 carry the Phoenix missile? I don't think so.

[MindBender26]

Fleet defense A/C and missiles soon to be obsolete, and not needed. Laser AAA power and tech is now so high, they can destroy any intruder in 1/10 second. Shipboard is also excellent platform for Directed Energy AAA weapons; no horizon problems as compared to land warfare, plenty of electric power, stable platform.

This is not laser guided AAA we are talking about. This is the laser as the actual weapon. In other words; a ray gun.

[El Gato]

Can the F-18 carry the Phoenix missile? I don't think so.

No, but it, like the F-15, F-16 and F-22, can carry the AMRAAM, aka Slammer, (AIM-120) which has many of the same capabilities, although shorter ranged, and lighter of warhead. However it's also more maneuverable in the "end game". Better, IMHO, against fighter or attack aircraft, and still sufficient against bombers. You have to get a little closer though, probably enough to put in the *theoretical* range of several Russian/Soviet missiles carried by Mig-29s and Su-27s. I'm sure F/A-18 could easily carry Phoenix, although fewer of them.

[SJSAMPLE]

Phoenix missiles were pulled from the active inventory even before the Tomcat. MUCH better stuff out there nowadays, especially against fighter aircraft (AIM-120 SLAMMER).