Special Report

Every Active Plane in the US Navy

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: January 29, 2024 10:37 am

The United States has the most powerful Navy in the world. Its ability to assert supremacy over the oceans has endured since World War II, which is when it emerged as the dominant military, primarily due to its formidable fleet of carrier-based warplanes. To this day, the U.S. military’s Naval influence is felt on a global level, unlike any other navy, with vessels deployed in all regions of the world, from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, and more. The Navy’s fleet of warplanes extends this reach further still. (Also see, the world’s 20 fastest warplanes.)

24/7 Wall St. referenced the 2023 report World Air Forces from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website to identify every active plane in the U.S. Navy. We ranked aircraft by the number of units in active service. Supplemental data regarding the type of aircraft, how many are in active service, and how many are on order came from FlightGlobal. Data on each aircraft’s first flight came from various military and historical sources.

The backbone of the Navy’s combat aviation fleet is the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and its predecessor, the F/A-18 Hornet. These fighter jets are designed for air superiority, strike missions, and aerial reconnaissance. Equipped with sophisticated avionics and weapon systems, F/A-18s have proven indispensable in combat aircraft in various engagements worldwide.

Then there is the multi-role stealth fighter F-35C Lightning II, which is part of the next generation and an addition to the fleet. Developed by Lockheed Martin, this aircraft incorporates the latest technologies, making it among the most advanced fighters on the planet. (These are the most expensive planes made for the U.S. Navy.)

The EA-18G Growler is another essential part of the Navy’s aerial arsenal. This advanced electronic warfare aircraft is generally tasked with jamming enemy radar and communication systems and is an essential aircraft for ensuring air superiority in contested environments. These aircraft feature advanced radar and onboard electronic systems that offer capabilities beyond just targeting. Another key component of the Navy’s patrol and strike capabilities is the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. These aircraft play a role in tracking and targeting submarines and surface ships.

The U.S. Navy’s current warplanes serve several roles, ranging from air supremacy to maritime control. The combination of combat fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and even electronic warfare planes creates an incredible adversary for any enemy. Here’s a look at all the planes in active service in the U.S. Navy.

Here is every plane in the U.S. Navy.

25. C-130 Super Hercules

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 1 (tied)
• First flight: April 1996
• On order for the Navy:

24. de Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Source: lilly3 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 1 (tied)
• First flight: December 1951
• On order for the Navy:

23. de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Source: Kristian1108 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 2 (tied)
• First flight: August 1947
• On order for the Navy:

22. Gulfstream C-20

Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 2 (tied)
• First flight: September 1985
• On order for the Navy:

21. KC-130 Hercules

148892 Lockheed KC-130-F Hercu... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrew Thomas

• Type: Tanker
• Active in Navy: 10 (tied)
• First flight: January 1960
• On order for the Navy:

20. Northrop T-38 Talon

Source: Ryan Fletcher / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 10 (tied)
• First flight: March 1959
• On order for the Navy:

19. EP-3 Ares II

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 11
• First flight: November 2002
• On order for the Navy:

18. Beechcraft C-12 Huron

84-00165 Beechcraft C 12 Huro... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Knight

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 13 (tied)
• First flight: October 1972
• On order for the Navy:

17. Beechcraft T-34 Mentor

Source: Ryan Fletcher / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 13 (tied)
• First flight: December 1948
• On order for the Navy:

16. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 14
• First flight: January 1974
• On order for the Navy:

15. Boeing E-6 Mercury

Source: AllenJMSmith / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 16
• First flight: February 1987
• On order for the Navy:

14. C-40 Clipper

C-40 Clipper on aproach to NAS... (CC BY 2.0) by Rob Bixby

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: April 2000
• On order for the Navy:

13. C-130 Hercules

Source: NNehring / E+ via Getty Images

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: August 1954
• On order for the Navy:

12. Martin P-3 Orion

Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 17 (tied)
• First flight: November 1959
• On order for the Navy:

11. C-2 Greyhound

Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

• Type: Transport
• Active in Navy: 30
• First flight: November 1964
• On order for the Navy:

10. F-5 Freedom Fighter

Source: my_public_domain_photos / Flickr

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 31
• First flight: July 1959
• On order for the Navy:

9. F-35 Lightning II

Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr

• Type: Combat aircraft, training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 35
• First flight: December 2006
• On order for the Navy: 216

8. F/A-18 Hornet

Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 52
• First flight: November 1978
• On order for the Navy:

7. Beechcraft Super King Air

Beechcraft B300 Super King Air... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 56
• First flight: October 1972
• On order for the Navy:

6. E-2 Hawkeye

20181208 E-2 Hawkeye parked Naha Air Show 2018-2 (CC0 1.0) by Balon Greyjoy

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 73
• First flight: October 1960
• On order for the Navy: 34

5. Boeing P-8 Poseidon

Boeing P-8A Poseidon - US Navy... (CC BY 2.0) by Steve Lynes

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 116
• First flight: April 2009
• On order for the Navy: 12

4. EA-18G Growler

Source: Public Domain / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

• Type: Special mission
• Active in Navy: 152
• First flight: August 2006
• On order for the Navy:

3. T-45 Goshawk

Source: Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 189
• First flight: April 1988
• On order for the Navy:

2. T-6 Texan

North American AT-6G Texan u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0098... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Alan Wilson

• Type: Training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 293
• First flight: April 1935
• On order for the Navy: 29

1. F/A-18 Super Hornet

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assig... (CC BY 2.0) by Official U.S. Navy Page

• Type: Combat aircraft, training aircraft
• Active in Navy: 547
• First flight: November 1995
• On order for the Navy: 76