Why Does The US Navy Have Planes? Here's What They're Used For

When you look at America's various military branches, the divisions seem cut and dry. The Army has access to tanks and ground forces, the Navy has domain over the ocean, the Marine Corps is an expeditionary force trained in a variety of missions, and the Air Force rules the skies. It's not as simple, though. There's a lot of overlap between the branches because it's necessary. The Army has ships for logistics, while the Air Force isn't the only branch with access to planes. Every branch has aircraft, but the Navy is actually the second-largest air force in the world with an inventory of roughly 3,700 aircraft.

Naval aviators fulfill a variety of roles for the Navy. Of course, there are fighter jets like the F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet that go on the offensive against aerial or ground targets. Other carrier-based aircraft specialize in scouting large areas over the ocean to spot targets, giving a carrier group an early warning before enemy craft approach the group. They also defend against deadly enemy attack submarines lurking beneath the waves, waiting to strike.

Naval aircraft give the Navy the ability to reach beyond the water, allowing it to cover corners of the globe the Air Force can't.

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The Navy's Various Fighter Aircraft

Carrier strike groups possess sufficient defense with fighter aircraft like the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The F/A-18 Hornet has been a familiar sight on carrier decks since the 1980s after being initially produced by McDonnell Douglas under the simpler designation as the F/A-18 Hornet. The Super Hornets are significantly distinct from the initial Hornet. , receiving significant upgrades that make them a completely different aircraft. They're equipped with two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines that push out 22,000 pounds of thrust each. It's far from the fastest jet in the air, but going faster than Mach 1.8 isn't slow by any stretch of the imagination.

In addition to its 20-mm Vulcan cannon, the Super Hornet can be equipped with various air-to-air missiles along with laser-guided bombs. This makes it just as formidable against enemy aircraft and ground targets alike. The Super Hornet often flies mission strikes together with another advanced jet, which is relatively new and possibly even more sophisticated. the most sophisticated fighter jet, the F-35C Lightning II It marks the Navy's initial foray into stealth technology and is designed to supplant the F/A-18C/D Hornet models currently in service.

The F-35C features a single Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 turbofan engine capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 1.6. It boasts an array of advanced electronic sensors, offering pilots exceptional situational awareness along with robust electronic warfare abilities; however, the primary focus on this aspect typically belongs to the EA-18G Growler. Compared to the Air Force’s F-35A, the Navy's variant comes equipped with more extensive wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear designed specifically for handling the demands of carrier-based operations such as landings and takeoffs.

The Navy's Non-Combat Aircraft

Even though the Growler shares the same airframe as the Super Hornet and boasts nine hardpoints, it is not officially classified as a fighter jet. Interestingly, it lacks any built-in weaponry. While some of these hardpoints can carry AIM-120 missiles, they typically house ALQ-99 electronic warfare pods designed to provide U.S. Navy fighters with superior jamming capabilities against adversaries. The Growler plays a crucial role within naval aviation. Another vital aerial task falls under the domain of early warning command and control operations, handled by what many refer to as "the quarterback in the sky" — the E-2C/D Hawkeye. As a propeller-driven aircraft, this distinctive platform stands out due to its prominent radar dome perched atop, enabling crew members to surveil combat zones and guide other planes accordingly.

The E-2 has been active in nearly every significant conflict since the Vietnam War. Surveillance plays an essential part in military operations, and even the Navy maintains various assets for this purpose. The P-8A Poseidon, based on a modified Boeing 737, patrols above bodies of water, tracking submarines and surface vessels. It has also supported search and rescue efforts. In contrast to a standard commercial Boeing 737, the Poseidon is equipped with air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, aerial torpedoes, cruise missiles, depth charges, and naval mines.

Additionally, there are unmanned systems like the MQ-4C Triton, which complements the Poseidon for the Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations.

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