How many planes does the u.s. navy have?

How Many Planes Does the U.S. Navy Have?

The United States Navy is one of the largest and most advanced naval forces in the world, with a vast fleet of aircraft that play a crucial role in its operations. The Navy’s aircraft fleet is a vital component of its overall capabilities, providing air support, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities to its ships and ground units. In this article, we will explore the answer to the question: how many planes does the U.S. Navy have?

Total Aircraft Inventory

The U.S. Navy has a total of 3,764 aircraft in its inventory, according to the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget request. This number includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

The Navy’s fixed-wing aircraft fleet consists of 1,444 aircraft, including:

• F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets: 543 aircraft
• F-35C Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets: 90 aircraft
• EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft: 116 aircraft
• EP-3E Aries II signals intelligence aircraft: 12 aircraft
• P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft: 114 aircraft
• P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft: 44 aircraft (being phased out)
• C-2A Greyhound cargo aircraft: 117 aircraft
• C-12 Huron cargo aircraft: 34 aircraft
• T-45 Goshawk trainer aircraft: 222 aircraft
• T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft: 242 aircraft

Rotary-Wing Aircraft

The Navy’s rotary-wing aircraft fleet consists of 1,534 aircraft, including:

• SH-60 Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters: 354 aircraft
• MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters: 246 aircraft
• MH-60S Knighthawk multi-mission helicopters: 134 aircraft
• UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters: 146 aircraft
• CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters: 122 aircraft
• CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters: 25 aircraft (being introduced)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

The Navy’s UAV fleet consists of 486 aircraft, including:

• MQ-9 Reaper strike UAVs: 60 aircraft
• MQ-4C Triton surveillance UAVs: 24 aircraft
• MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopters: 144 aircraft
• X-47B experimental UAVs: 2 aircraft

Conclusion

In conclusion, the U.S. Navy has a total of 3,764 aircraft in its inventory, including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. The Navy’s aircraft fleet plays a critical role in its operations, providing air support, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities to its ships and ground units. The Navy continues to modernize its aircraft fleet, introducing new technologies and capabilities to maintain its edge in the rapidly changing global security environment.

Table: U.S. Navy Aircraft Inventory

Note: The numbers are subject to change and may not reflect the current inventory.