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Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 “Sidewinders”

Mission

Maintain and deploy the F/A-18 to win in combat.

About Us

Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT SIX traces its origins to Fighter Squadron 921, based at Naval Air Station St. Louis, Missouri, during the Korean War in February 1951.

In July 2011 the Sidewinders left the swamps of the Low Country of South Carolina and moved across the country to the desert and farms at NAS Lemoore, CA and transitioned to the FA-18E Super Hornet. 

The F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft we fly is the world's most advanced strike fighter. Designed to operate from a carrier, the Super Hornet is fully capable in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. 

The Super Hornet is the second major model upgrade since the inception of the F/A-18 aircraft program highly capable across the full mission spectrum: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression and day/night precision strike.

VFA-86 Squadron Insignia Image


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