In Afghanistan, the U.S. military employed some of its oldest aircraft. The 50-year-old B-52 bomber proved its mettle, as did the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, which entered service in 1973, and the F/A-18 Hornet. But while the venerable B-52 will remain in service, the military is beginning to phase out the Tomcat in favor of its next-generation fighter, the F/A-18 Super Hornet.