About Us Strike Fighter Squadron 137, nicknamed the “Kestrels” after the native North American Falcon, was established on 01 July 1985. The Kestrels received their first Lot VIII F/A-18A Hornet on 25 November 1985. The Kestrels returned home in June 2003, and began the transition to the new Lot XXV F/A-18E Super Hornet. After completing the Safe for Flight certification, the Kestrels became the third FA-18E squadron in the U.S. Navy. 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.