On February 4th, 1988, VA-81 transitioned to the McDonnell-Douglas FA-18C Hornet, becoming Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT-ONE (VFA-81). Along with the new aircraft, the squadron adopted the current squadron logo and patches that Sunliners wear today. On August 7th, 1990, Sunliners deployed once again with CVW-17 aboard Saratoga for their first FA-18C Hornet cruise and their first mission as a strike fighter squadron. This deployment took place one week after Iraq had invaded Kuwait, and VFA-81 actively participated in both OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and later OPERATION DESERT STORM as part of the Red Sea Battle Force. On January 17th, 1991, VFA-81 participated in some of the first carrier-based strikes of the Persian Gulf War. The first division of Sunliners to enter combat succeeded in proving the strike fighter concept by successfully engaging in both air-to-air and air-to-ground engagement in the same flight. As three VFA-81 and one VFA-83 Rampager aircraft flew into Iraq on CVW-17's first daylight strike of the war, they were confronted by two Iraqi Mig-21s. Sunliner LCDR Mark "MRT" Fox, and LT Nick "Mongo" Mongillo each downed one enemy aircraft before proceeding to and destroying their target. These were the Navy's only two aerial victories of the war.