The Most Numerous US Navy Aircraft By Type

The US Navy has numerous aircraft in its fleet. Each aircraft serves a vital purpose in furthering the Navy’s global mission. The most well-known and perhaps visible are fighter aircraft, which routinely appear in news stories and video clips.

While these aircraft are undoubtedly vital, the Navy also employs refueling, cargo, surveillance and reconnaissance, antisubmarine combat, various helicopters, and the humble training aircraft.

In this article, we dive into the Navy’s most numerous aircraft by type. Additionally, we will take a brief look at their individual histories and the role they play in the service of the US Navy.

The SH-60 Seahawk

Inventory: 454 with 3 on order

The Seahawk is a workhorse helicopter specializing in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. However, the Seahawk also performs search and rescue, medical evacuation, special warfare, and vertical replenishment operations.

During the 1970s, the US Navy began searching for a replacement for the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, which entered the Navy’s inventory in 1962. For a replacement, the Navy based its new maritime requirements on the Army’s

in order to achieve commonality and avoid a lengthy design and testing process. In so doing, the Seahawk maintains an 83% commonality with the Blackhawk.

Technical notes for the SH-60 Seahawk

The F/A-18 Super Hornet entered the fleet in 1999, replacing the F-14 Tomcat.

Some of the primary changes made to fit the Seahawk into naval operations include enhanced corrosion protection, more powerful T700 engines, removal of the left-side door, additional weapons pylons, and a 25-tube sonobuoy launcher. Additional structural changes were made for ease of operations from naval vessels.

The Seahawk is equipped with a sophisticated set of sensors to carry out its anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare roles. These include a towed Magnetic Anomaly Detector, APS-124 search radar, ALQ-142 ESM system, and an optional nose-mounted Forward-Looking Infrared turret.

In terms of weapons, the Seahawk can carry the Mk 46, Mk 50 or the Mk 54 torpedo. Additionally, this aircraft can carry the Penguin and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. As far as self-defense armament, the Seahawk can mount an M60/M240, 7.62 machine gun or the GAU-16 .50-caliber machine gun.

The F/A-18 Super Hornet

Inventory: 421 with 76 on order

Following the Vietnam War, the US Navy began developing a multi-mission aircraft capable of performing air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The desire was to replace the F-4 Phantom and the A-7 Corsair.

The F/A-18 Hornet completed its first flight in 1978 and entered operational service with the Marine Corps in 1983 and the US Navy in 1984. By 1985, this new aircraft made its first deployment aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64).

The F/A-18 Super Hornet entered the fleet in 1999 as the replacement for the F-14 Tomcat. The original Hornet, while an incredible aircraft, was limited in range. Thus, the Super Hornet boasts a 20-percent larger airframe. This gave the aircraft increased lift and 33% more internal fuel capacity, increasing its mission range by 41%.

The Super Hornet is now manufactured by Boeing following its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

Technical notes for the F/A-18 Super Hornet, E and F models

Recently, the Texan II has been successful in the Asian market, as Japan has agreed to purchase the aircraft for its air force’s pilot training program.

In addition to the increased fuel storage, the Navy ensured that the

Super Hornet
was equipped with two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines. These engines have a thrust class of 22,000 lb., compared to the F/A-18s earlier model F404-GE-102/103/402 engines, which fell into the 17,700 lb. thrust class. The new F414 engines drastically enhanced the Super Hornets’ performance, particularly while engaging in carrier operations.

With all of its enhancements, the Super Hornet can accomplish a wide spectrum of missions. These include air superiority, fighter escort, aerial refueling, electronic warfare (EA-18G Growler), reconnaissance, close air support, and day or night precision strike.

The first operational deployment of the Super Hornet, F/A-18E, was with VFA-115 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in 2002. Initial combat action occurred in November of that same year when VFA-115 engaged in a strike on hostile targets in the “no-fly” zone in Iraq.

The T-6B Texan II

Inventory: 294 with 29 on order

The Texan II is a joint Air Force/Navy undergraduate pilot training aircraft. Developed for the aircraft was initiated under the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program, with initial acquisition and support contracts being awarded in 1996.

The first operational Texan II landed at Randolph Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, in May 2000, with full-rate production being awarded in December 2001. Production of the aircraft for the Air Force was completed in 2010.

This aircraft is based on the Swiss-designed Pilatus PC-9, and the Navy’s designation is the T-6B.

Randolph AFB, built between 1928 and 1930, has been a dedicated flight training school. Amongst other units, Randolph is home the Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, with the host unit being the 12th Flying Training Wing.

Technical notes for the T-6B Texan II

The Texan II is equipped with a Pratt & Whittney Canada PT6A turboprop engine that produces 1,100 horsepower. Because of its excellent thrust-to-weight ratio, the aircraft is capable of performing an initial climb of 3,100 feet per minute and can reach 18,000 feet in under six minutes.

Earlier this year, the Navy released a request for information regarding a replacement for the F-45.

Recently, the Texan II has been successful in the Asian market, as Japan has agreed to purchase the aircraft and associated ground equipment for its air force’s pilot training program. Additionally, Vietnam and Thailand are set to purchase 12 Texan IIs.

The T-45 Goshawk

Inventory: 189 (The US is the primary user, but the UK also uses this aircraft)

The T-45 aircraft is the US Navy version of the British Aerospace Hawk aircraft, and became operational in 1991. It was designed for use in the intermediate and advanced portions of the Navy and Marine Corps pilot training program. The T-45 is specifically tailored for pilots who will deploy aboard an aircraft carrier and for practicing tactical strike missions.

The current model, T-45C features a digital cockpit design.

Technical notes for the T-45 Goshawk

The T-45 is powered by a Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour turbofan engine, which produces 5,200 pounds of thrust. The aircraft was engineered with a compact, low-wing configuration, with the instructor seated in an elevated position behind the student, under a large, single-piece, side-opening canopy.

With regard to weapons training, the T-45 features five external storage stations, which can accommodate a wide array of weapons. This includes a 30mm gun pod capable of being mounted on the fuselage centerline station.

The first Growler to be produced left the shop floor on June 3, 2008.

Earlier this year, the Navy released a request for information regarding a replacement for the F-45. Candidates for the program are the Leonardo-Textron M-346N, the Boeing-Saab T-7, and the Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50.

EA-18G Growler

Inventory: 153

The Growler is a variant in the F/A-18 family of aircraft; it pairs the renowned Super Hornet platform with a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. The Growler is the first newly-designed electronic warfare aircraft produced in over 35 years. The reason behind its design and production was to replace the EA-6B Prowler.

Electronic warfare features

• ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods
• AN/ALQ-249, the Next Generation Jamming Pod
• ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasures Set

Technical notes for the EA-18G Growler

The first Growler to be produced left the shop floor on June 3, 2008. It was delivered to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, the Growler Fleet Replacement Squadron, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in Washington.

Rather than design an entirely new aircraft, the Navy opted to base the Poseidon on the Boeing 737-800 commercial airliner fuselage.

Shortly after its first delivery, the Growler entered initial operational capability and full-rate production in the fall of 2009. By 2010, three squadrons, VAQ-132, VAQ-141, and VAQ-138, made the move from the Prowler to the Growler and were subsequently declared safe-for-flight.

The Growler engaged in its first combat action in 2011 during Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya.

All the Navy’s EA-18G squadrons are stationed at NAS

Whidbey Island
, except for VAQ-141, which is attached to Carrier Air Wing 5, based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

P-8 Poseidon

Inventory: 118 with 10 on order

The Poseidon is a multi-mission aircraft developed to replace the P-3C Orion, which entered service with the Navy in the 1960s. It is tailored to provide long-range patrol services over maritime environments. In addition to surface surveillance, it scans below the surface for subsurface threats.

Rather than design an entirely new aircraft, the Navy opted to base the Poseidon on the Boeing 737-800 commercial airliner fuselage. To prepare the aircraft for military service, they were substantially modified with a weapons bay, hard points, increased electrical generation, Boeing 737-900 wings, and further structural strengthening for military operations.

The Poseidon’s sensor suite

• Active multi-static sensor system
• Passive acoustic sensor system
• Inverse synthetic aperture radar
• Electronic support measures system
• Electro-optical/infrared sensor
• Digital magnetic anomaly detector

Technical notes for the P-8 Poseidon

Currently, there are more than 169 Poseidon’s in service with the US Navy and partner states around the world. Across the fleet, the Poseidon has racked up over 600,000 flight hours globally, and each aircraft is engineered for 25 years or 25,000 flight hours in the harshest maritime flight environments.