Significant Fighters on the Ai rcraft Carriers
¡@
F-14 Tomcat
Primary
function: Carrier-based
multi-role strike fighter
Speed: 1,484 mph
Armament: AIM-54
Phoenix missile, AIM-7 Sparrow
missile, AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, air-to-ground precision strike ordnance, and
one M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon.
Crew: Pilot and radar intercept officer
F-15 Eagle/F-15E Strike Eagle
Primary function:
Tactical fighter; F-15E model adds air-to-ground capabilities
Speed: 1,875 mph
Armament: One M-61A1 20-mm, six-barrel cannon; four
Sidewinder and four Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAM
missiles; F-15E model can carry any nuclear or conventional air-to-surface Air
Force weapon
Crew: F-15A/C, one; F-15B/D/E, two
¡@
F-16 Falcon
Primary function: Multi-role fighter jet
Speed: 1,500 mph
Armament: One M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500
rounds; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional
air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronic countermeasure pods
Crew: F-16C, one; F-16D, one or two
¡@
F/A-18 Hornet
¡@
Primary function: Multi-role attack and fighter
aircraft
Speed: 1,261 mph
Armament: One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20 mm cannon;
Sidewinder, Sparrow, AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, Maverick missiles; Joint Stand-Off
Weapon (JSOW); JDAM smart-bombs; various general-purpose bombs, mines and
rockets
Crew: A and C models are pilot-only; D model is
two-seaters
¡@
F-117 Nighthawk (Stealth fighter)
Primary function: Fighter/attack
Speed: Nearing speed of sound (high subsonic)
Armament: Internal weapons carriage
Crew: Pilot
¡@
A-10 Thunderbolt
Primary function: Close-air support
Speed: 420 mph
Armament: One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun;
up to 16,000 pounds of bombs, including laser-guided and cluster bombs; Maverick
missiles; 2.75- inch rockets; AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
Crew: Pilot
AV-8B Harrier
Primary function: Attack/close-air support
Speed: Under or near speed of sound (subsonic to
transonic)
Armament: AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-65 Maverick
missiles; various air-to-ground weapons; GAU-12 25mm six-barrel gun
Crew: Pilot
F/A18-E/F Super Hornet
Primary function: Multi-role attack and fighter
aircraft
Speed: Mach 1.7 plus
Armament: M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20 mm cannon; Sidewinder,
Sparrow, AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick missiles; Joint
Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); JDAM smart-bombs; various general-purpose bombs, mines
and rockets
Crew: One in E model; Two in F model
¡@
Significant Helicopters on Aircraft Carriers
SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters
Primary functions:
Anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift
Speed: 207 mph
Armament: 7.62 mm machine guns; can also be equipped
with AGM-114 Hellfire or AGM-119 Penguin missiles, three Mk46 or Mk 50 torpedoes
or additional .50-caliber machine guns
Crew: Three to four
AH-64 Apache Helicopter
Primary function:
Gunship/anti-tank helicopter
Speed: up to 189 mph
Armament: Hellfire anti-tank missiles; M230 30mm
chain gun; Hydra 70 (70mm, 2.75-inch) rockets; Stinger and Sidewinder anti-air
missiles
Crew: Two
UH-60 Black Hawk
Primary function:
Utility helicopter primarily used by air assault, air cavalry, and aeromedical
evacuation units
Speed: 160 mph
Armament: Mounts for two 7.62 mm machine guns, .50
caliber machine guns or M134 7.62-mm mini-Gatling guns
Crew: Three
Model: Various models used by all branches of
U.S.
military
CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter
Primary function:
Transportation of heavy equipment and supplies during amphibious assault
Speed: 172.5 mph
Armament: Two XM-218 .50-caliber machine guns
Crew: Three
AH-64D Apache Longbow
Primary function:
Gunship/anti-tank helicopter
Speed: 170 mph
Armament: 30-mm chain gun, 70-mm Hydra aerial
rockets; Hellfire anti-tank missiles; Sidearm anti-radar missile; Sidewinder
air-to-air missiles
Crew: Two Model: Longbow model has upgraded
radar and avionics systems than other Apache models