The US Marines' Most Used Aircraft Isn't What You Think

24/7 Wall St. Insights

With 288 aircraft, the V-22 Osprey combat helicopter is by far the most flown aircraft by the Marine Corps.
First flown in September 1985, there is only one Gulfstream C-20 in active use by the Marines, making it the smallest aircraft amount in the fleet.
Marine Corps aircraft serve a wide variety of aviation needs, ranging from air and assault support to presidential transportation.
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Typically, when people think of the U.S. Marine Corps, aircraft and aviation prowess are not what first come to mind. However, the aircraft arm of the Marine Corps does focus on the use of aircraft for various needs, including air and assault support, aerial reconnaissance, aircraft and missile control, and electronic warfare. Outside of a combat setting, the Marine Corps utilizes aviation to support governmental safety and protection, such as providing the president with helicopter transport. To facilitate this mission, the Marine Corps recently accepted a next-generation VH-92A helicopter built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT | LMT Price Prediction) company. Using Sikorsky aircraft, the Marine Corps has actually helped transport every president since 1957. (These are the 15 least popular U.S. presidents according to millennials, ranked.)

As you can see, aircraft are actually incredibly important to the Marine Corps. But what are the main aircraft that this military branch uses, and why? Here, 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of aircraft using data from the 2024 report World Air Forces, from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website. We’ve ranked aircraft based on the number of units in active service in the Marine Corps. We’ve also offered information (per FlightGlobal) on the type of aircraft, the number in active service, and how many are on order. Data on first flights was obtained from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, arms, aircraft, and more.

For example, the AV-8B Harrier II is an important aircraft for the Marine Corps, designed for attack missions. Because it’s designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings, it’s often used for ground attack missions. Overall, 88 99 AV-8B Harrier IIs are currently in active service as combat and trainer aircraft.

For heavy-lift operations, the Marine Corps uses the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, specifically designed for transporting heavy equipment and large numbers of troops. However, the CH-53K King Stallion is set to replace the Super Stallion, promising improved range, lifting capabilities, and advanced technologies.

Here are the aircraft in active service in the U.S. Marines:

Why Are We Covering This?

The US Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

On average, the U.S. spends $400 billion a year to operate and support its military units. In 2024, $5.7 billion was budgeted to the Marines Corps for aviation readiness. Overall, the Department of Defense has $2.02 trillion in budgetary resources which is 14.6% of the federal budget for 2024. By recognizing which aircraft the U.S. Marines are investing in, you can better understand organizational and operational priorities.