Carrier Based - military aircraft that land on aircraft carriers - Brief Article

All Hands, Jan, 2001

F/A-18 Hornet

The F/A-18 is an all-weather, attack aircraft that can also be used as a fighter. In its fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as an escort and for fleet air defense. In its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction and close-air support

WINGSPAN: 37.5 ft.

LENGTH: 56 ft.

HEIGHT: 15 ft, 3.5 in.

SPEED: Mach 1.8+

RANGE: 290 nm

ARMAMENT: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sparrow III and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; laser-guided and general purpose bombs; Harpoon and HARM

CREW: 1 or 2

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

The F/A-18E/F will provide the carrier battle group with a strike fighter that has significant growth potential and increased range, endurance and ordnance-carrying capabilities. It will eventually replace the F-14 on carrier decks.

WINGSPAN: 44 ft., 8.5 in.

LENGTH: 60 ft., 1.25 in.

HEIGHT: 16 ft.

WEIGHT: 66,000 lbs. maximum take off

SPEED: Mach 1.8+

CEILING: 50,000 ft.

RANGE: 462

ARMAMENT: 20mm Mk-61 Vulcan cannon; Sidewinder, Sparrow and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; Maverick, Harpoon. Shrike, HARM, SLAM-ER and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); Walleye and other bombs and rockets.

CREW: 1 or 2

F-14 Tomcat

The F-14 is a supersonic, twin-engine, variable sweep-wing fighter designed to attack and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in all weather conditions. The F-14 can track up to 24 targets simultaneously with its advanced weapons control system and engage any of them with one of its six Phoenix missiles while continuing to scan the airspace.

WINGSPAN: 64 ft., 1.5 in.

LENGTH: 62 ft., 8 in.

HEIGHT: 74,349 lbs, maximum takeoff

SPEED: Mach 1.88

CEILING: 50,000 ft.

RANGE: 1,600 nm (with external fuel)

ARMAMENT: 20mm MK-61 Vulcan cannon; Sparrow, Sidewinder and Phoenix air-to-air missiles; laser-guided and general purpose bombs

CREW: 2 (one pilot, one radar intercept officer)

EA-6B Prowler

The EA-6B, a twin-engine, mid-wing aircraft designed for carrier and advanced base operations, is used to provide an umbrella of protection for strike aircraft by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications. The EA-6B is a fully integrated electronic warfare system, combining long-range, all-weather capabilities with advanced electronic countermeasures.

WINGSPAN: 53 ft.

LENGTH: 59 ft., 10 in.

HEIGHT: 16 ft., 3 in.

WEIGHT: 65,000 lbs. Maximum takeoff

SPEED: 622 mph

CEILING: 41,200 ft.

COMBAT RANGE: 955 nm

ARMAMENT: HARM

CREW: 4 (one pilot, three electronic warfare officers)

S-3B Viking

The S-3B, a jet aircraft used for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, is extermely versatile and can be equipped for tanking, mining and limited electronic surveillance.

WINGSPAN: 68 ft., 8 in.

LENGTH: 53 ft., 4 in.

HEIGHT: 22 ft., 9 in

WEIGHT: 52,639 lbs. maximum design gross weight

SPEED: 518 mph

CEILING: more than 35,000 ft.

RANGE: more than 2,000 nm (combat)

ARMAMENT: torpedoes, bombs harpoon and Maverick

CREW: 4 (one pilot, tow flight officers and one sensor operator)

E-2C Hawkeye

The E-2C is the Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical warning and control system aircraft. It provides airborne early warning and command and control functions for the battle group. Additional missions include: surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control search and rescue guidance and communications relay.

WINGSPAN: 80 ft., 7 in.

LENGTH: 57 ft., 8.75 in.

HEIGHT: 1.8 ft., 3.75 in

WEIGHT: 53,288 lbs. maximum takeoff

SPEED: 389 mph

CEILING: 37,0000 ft.

RANGE: 1,541 nm (ferry range)

CREW: 5 (two pilot, three mission systems operators)

C-2A Greyhound

The C-2A is the principal aircraft used for COD (carrier on-board delivery) of personnel and material. It can deliver a payload of up to 10,000 lbs.

WINGSPAN: 80.5 ft.

LENGTH: 57 ft., 10 in.

HEIGHT: 15 ft., 10.5 in

SPEED: 310 mph

CEILING: 52,500 ft.

RANGE: more than 1,040 mm ( with fraight)

CREW: 3 (one pilot, one co-pilot, and flight engineer)