Naval Air Warfare Proknow

Mission/function of naval air warfare

To closely coordinate with other naval forces in maintaining command of the seas while also establishing dominance in the airspace surrounding vital interests

CAS

Close Air Support

CSAR

Combat Search and Rescue

C5I

Command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, and intelligence

3 categories of aircraft

Fixed wing, rotary wing, and tiltrotor

2 groups of aviation air assets

Maritime Aviation and Carrier Aviation

Naval Aviator

URL Officer, qualified AC (aircraft commander), overall responsibility of aircraft regardless of rank

NFO

Naval Flight Officer: URL officer, overall tactical coordinator of multiple air assets

Enlisted Aircrewman

Enlisted personnel in permanent flight status; responsible for operation, maintenance, and training

Flight Surgeon

Medical representative for an aviation command; responsible to CO for medical readiness of command

PAMO

Professional Aviation Maintenance Officer; established in 2009, includes aerospace maintenance duty officers, aviation limited duty officers, and aviation maintenance chief warrant officers

First question asked by President during every national security crisis

“Where are the carriers?”

First naval officer selected for flight training

LT Theodore G Ellyson, 1910

First Naval air station

Greenbury Point (Annapolis), 1911

First aircraft carrier

USS Langley, 1922

Pivotal battle in WWII that proved the importance of carriers

Midway, 1942

Percentage of strike sorties flown by carrier-based aircraft during Operation Enduring Freedom

72%

VAW

Airborne Early Warning Squadron

VP

Maritime Patrol Squadron

VFA

Fighter/Attack Squadron

VAQ

Electronic Attack

VQ

Fleet Air Reconnaissance

VR/VRC/VRM

Fleet Logistics Support/Carrier/Multi-mission

HSM

Helicopter Maritime Strike

HSC

Helicopter Sea Combat

HM

Helicopter Mine Countermeasures

CVW (Carrier Air Wing)

4 VFA squadron, 1 VAQ squadron, 1 VAW squadron, 1 VRC/VRM detachment, 1 HSC squadron, 1 HSM squadron

CVN 68 Nimitz Class Carrier

small superstructure located approx. 2/3 of the distance from bow to stern, 60 aircraft airwing

Aircraft carriers core capabilities

power projection, forward presence, humanitarian assistance, deterrence, sea control, maritime security

Nimitz class carrier crew size

Ship’s company = 3000, Air wing = 1500, Other = 500

CVN 78 Gerald Ford Class carriers

25 feet longer than Nimitz-class, largest US ship, more aft placement of superstructure, 70 aircraft airwing

Ford class Carrier crew size

Ship’s Company = 2600, Air Wing = 2480

A

Attack

C

Cargo/transport

E

Electronic

F

Fighter

H

Helicopter

K

Tanker

M

Mine Countermeasures and Multi-mission

P

Patrol

Q

Unmanned

R

Reconnaissance

S

Antisubmarine

T

Trainer

U

Utility

V

VTOL/STOL

F/A-18E

single seat

F/A-18F

two seater

F/A-18F crew

1 pilot, 1 NFO (as WSO)

carrier air wing’s only air refueling asset, carrier-based all weather fighter and attack aircraft, close air support, forward air control

F/A-18 Super Hornet

replacement for EA-6B, 35% longer fuselage and larger wing surface than F/A-18, jamming pods, electronic attack/surveillance

EA-18G Growler

EA-18G crew size

1 pilot, 1 NFO (as EWO)

fifth generation stealth fighter, first look, first shot, first kill capability, advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility

F-35C Lightning II

F-35 crew size

1 pilot

Air Force F35 variant

F-35A

Marine Corps F35 variant

F-35B

carrier-based all weather early warning and battle management asset, upgraded have aerial refueling capability, large rotating radar dome

E-2D Hawkeye

E-2D crew size

2 pilots, 3 NFOs

COD (carrier onboard delivery), logistics support, 10K lbs over 1000+ nautical miles, high wing

C-2A Greyhound

C-2A crew size

2 pilots, 2 enlisted aircrew

P-3 replacement, modified Boeing 737, antisub platform, also command and control, intel, and ASUW, multi-mission maritime aircraft, raked wingtips

P-8A Poseidon

P-8A crew size

3 pilots, 2 NFOs, 4 enlisted aircrew

TACCO

tactical coordinator

COTAC

co-tactical coordinator

fleet air reconnaissance, TACAMO mission, airborne command post, capable of launching land-based ICBMs, Boeing 707 airframe, anetenna pod on spine

E-6B Mercury

E-6B crew size

3 pilots, 2 NFOs, 6-9 enlisted aircrew

persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, and recon, range of 2000 nautical miles, autonomously operated, 130 ft wingspan, domed head

MQ-4C Triton

MQ-4C crew

unmanned (4 personnel on ground)

maritime strike, mostly ASW and ASUW missions, dipping sonar, forward rear-wheel, FLIR turret faces up, nicknamed Romeo

MH-60R Seahawk

MH-60R crew size

2 pilots, 1-2 aircrew

sea combat, more multi-role missions, SOF insertion and extraction, VERTREP, CSAR and SAR, disaster relief, tail wheel at back, FLIR faces down, nicknamed Sierra

MH-60S Seahawk

MH-60S crew size

2 pilots, 1-5 aircrew

airborne mine countermeasure, 99 ft long, 6/7 rotor blades, towed minesweeping sled, also can support assault missions and shipboard delivery

MH-53E Sea Dragon

MH-53E crew size

2 pilots, 1-2 aircrew

ISR, autonomous helicopter, precision targeting support, small size, 2000 lbs, recon at sea

MQ-8B/C Fire Scout

MQ-8 B/C crew size

1 pilot, 1 aircrew (both operate remotely)

C-2A replacement, more flexible in distance and capability, expeditionary or sea-based, logistics/multi-mission support, twin rotors that tilt

CMV-22B Osprey

CMV-22B crew size

1 pilot, 1 co-pilot, 2 crew chiefs