Today, the United States Navy has the largest fleet of aircraft carriers in the world. This impressive fleet is nuclear-powered, allowing them to remain at sea for years without returning to land for fuel.
To identify which planes and helicopters fly on today’s American aircraft carriers, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We focused only on aircraft currently used by the U.S. military, verified by multiple sources. We then ordered our list from the oldest to the newest carrier-based aircraft.
Why We’re Covering This
Aircraft carriers are often based in international waters, and strategic deployments can convey American intentions toward specific regions or countries. In addition, America’s impressive fleet of aircraft carriers demonstrates the country’s ability to project power around the world. This can have significant impacts on international relations and potentially even trigger fluctuations in global markets and investments.
These are the American planes that fly on aircraft carriers today.
AV-8B Harrier II
- Aircraft in active service: 99
- Year entered service: 1985
- Crew: 1
- Manufacturer: Boeing, BAE Systems
- Top speed: 665 mph
- Variants: TAV-8B (two-seat trainer), AV-8B (Harrier II Night Attack)
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra
- Aircraft in active service: 159
- Year entered service: 1971
- Crew: 2
- Manufacturer: Bell
- Top speed: 173 mph
- Variants: AH-1J (SeaCobra), AH-1Z (Viper)
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
- Aircraft in active service: 360
- Year entered service: 2007
- Crew: 3
- Manufacturer: Bell, Boeing
- Top speed: 316 mph
- Variants: V-22 (base series), CMV-22B (long-ranged V-22 model)
Bell UH-1Y Venom
- Aircraft in active service: 129
- Year entered service: 2009
- Crew: 1
- Manufacturer: Bell
- Top speed: 190 mph
- Variants: Bell UH-1 Huey, Bell UH-1Y Venom
Boeing EA-18G Growler
- Aircraft in active service: 152
- Year entered service: 2009
- Crew: 2
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Top speed: 1181 mph
- Variants: EA-18G (base series), Block II
CH-47 Chinook
- Aircraft in active service: 513
- Year entered service: 1962
- Crew: 3
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Top speed: 180 mph
- Variants: CH-47A (base model), MH-47D (special operations model)
E-2D Hawkeye
- Aircraft in active service: 73
- Year entered service: 2014
- Crew: 5
- Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman
- Top speed: 404 mph
- Variants: Hawkeye, Advanced Hawkeye
F/A-18 Hornet
- Aircraft in active service: 236
- Year entered service: 1983
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Top speed: 1190 mph
- Variants: F/A-18D (two-seat model), F/A-18E (Super Hornet)
F/A-18 Super Hornet
- Aircraft in active service: 547
- Year entered service: 1999
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Top speed: 1187 mph
- Variants: F/A-18E (single-seat model), F/A-18E/F (Advanced Super Hornet)
F-35 Lightning II
- Aircraft in active service: 162
- Year entered service: 2016
- Crew: 1
- Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
- Top speed: 1199 mph
- Variants: F-35A (conventional), F-35B (STOVL), F-35C (carrier-based)
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
- Aircraft in active service: 30
- Year entered service: 1967
- Crew: 4
- Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman
- Top speed: 331 mph
- Variants: C-2A (initial production model)
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
- Aircraft in active service: 140
- Year entered service: 1966
- Crew: 3
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Top speed: 196 mph
- Variants: CH-53A (base model), VH-53D (VIP transport)
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
- Aircraft in active service: 35
- Year entered service: 1981
- Crew: 5
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Top speed: 196 mph
- Variants: CH-53K (King Stallion), MH-53E (Sea Dragon)
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
- Aircraft in active service: 493
- Year entered service: 1979
- Crew: 2
- Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
- Top speed: 183 mph
- Variants: MH-60 (Knighthawk), SH-60 (Seahawk)
T-45 Goshawk
- Aircraft in active service: 189
- Year entered service: 1991
- Crew: 2
- Manufacturer: BAE Systems, Boeing
- Top speed: 645 mph
- Variants: T-45A (base trainer), T-45C (current standardized Goshawk)
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