United States Marine Corps Aviation

United States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures.

Today, Marine aviation is task organized to support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, as the aviation combat element, by providing six functions: assault support, anti-air warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance. The Corps operates both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide transport and close air support to its ground forces. However, other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles.

All Marine aviation falls under the influence of the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, whose job is to advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps in all matters relating to aviation, especially acquisition of new assets, conversions of current aircraft, maintenance, operation, and command.

Combat Aircraft

 * McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet x 260 (Multirole Fighter)
 * McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II x 108 (Attack Aircraft)
 * Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II x 60 (Multirole Fighter) - 300 more on order
 * Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II x ? (Multirole Fighter) - 440 on order

Transport Aircraft

 * Beechcraft C-12B/F Huron x 14 (Utility/Transport Aircraft) - 2 more on order
 * Cessna UC-35C/D Citation Sovereign x 12 (VIP Transport) - 2 more on order
 * Gulstream C-20G x 2 (VIP Transport)
 * Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules x 54 (Aerial Tanker) - 8 more on order

Helicopters

 * Bell AH-1W SuperCobra x 106 (Attack Helicopter)
 * Bell AH-1Z Viper x 72 (Attack Helicopter) - 38 more on order
 * Bell UH-1Y Venom x 172 (Utility Helicopter)
 * Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey x 254 (Transport Tiltrotor) - 36 more on order
 * Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion x 142 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter)
 * Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion x 2 (Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter) - 198 more on order

Trainer Aircraft

 * Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor x 4 (Basic Trainer)
 * McDonnell-Douglas TAV-8B+ Harrier II x 16 (Conversion Trainer)
 * McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet x 18 (Conversion Trainer)
 * Northrop F-5F/N Tiger II x 14 (Jet Trainer)