World Carrier Air Wings (2019): Part 1
This post will cover the composition of the air wings of the world's current major aircraft carriers. This includes the American Nimitz-class, the French Charles de Gaulle, the Chinese Liaoning, the Indian Vikramaditya, and the Russian Kuznetsov. The air wings of the smaller VSTOL are covered in Part 2.
Arguably the most important aircraft in this air wing are its 4 the E-2 Hawkeye 29-ton fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. These planes permit around the clock radar coverage and are also responsible for directing fighter intercepts. The Navy is currently finishing the transition from the older E-2C and its rotating AN/APS-145 radar to the E-2D with its powerful AN/APY-9 AESA radar, which is believed to be capable of detecting stealth aircraft at long ranges through the use of low frequencies and advanced processing techniques.
But the heart of the air wing is its 44 F/A-18 multirole fighters. These come in two distinct variants - the F/A-18C/D Hornet and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The former are 26-ton planes that entered service in 1987 to replace the F-4 Phantom and A-7 Corsair. The F/A-18C is the single-seat version while the F/A-18D is the two-seat version. Unlike in other navies, the two-seat planes are not mere training versions but are fully part of the air wing. As of 2019, both versions have been retired from frontline Navy service, but can still be found in the Marine squadrons that occasionally deploy aboard carriers. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a scaled-up 33-ton variant that entered service in 1999 to replace the F-14 Tomcat and A-6 Intruder. The vast majority of these are the Block II variant, which is equipped with the AN/APG-79 AESA radar, instead of the obsolete AN/APG-73 mechanically-scanned radar found on the older Hornets.
For air-to-air combat the F/A-18 is armed with the AIM-120D AMRAAM medium-range active-radar homing missile and the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range infra-red homing missile. For attack missions the F/A-18 has an even more impressive array of weapons, including the AGM-84N Harpoon Block II antiship missile, the AGM-88E Advanced Antiradiation missile, and the AGM-154 JSOW glide bomb, as well as the usual variety of laser-guided and GPS-guided 500, 1000, and 2000-pound bombs.
The air wing also include 5 EA-18G Growlers, a Super Hornet variant that is specialized for electronic warfare - a capability that is unique to the US Navy. The EA-18G can be equipped with up to 5 AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods, each tuned to different frequencies, on top of its enhanced built-in electronic warfare systems. Further, the EA-18G retains most of the air to air and air to ground capabilities of the base F/A-18 and is commonly armed with AIM-120 and the AGM-88 missiles.
Completing the air wing is a large complement of MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk 12-ton medium helicopters. Officially, 19 of these are assigned to the air wing. However, 8 are generally split among the carrier’s escorting cruisers and destroyers. The MH-60R is the combat variant and is equipped with a multifunction dipping sonar, a surface search radar, an IR sensor, ESM, and a launcher for 25 sonobouys. Weapons include two pylons for a pair of Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes or 8 Hellfire missiles. The MH-60S is the utility variant, but it can still be equipped with an electro-optic sensor and 8 Hellfire.
Immediately catching the eye are the two E-2C Hawkeyes, which makes France the only nation other than the United States to operate fixed-wing AEW aircraft and provides a significant advantage in situational awareness. Although the French Navy possesses a total of three E-2C Hawkeyes, only two are embarked aboard Charles de Gaulle at any one time.
But the jewel of the air wing is its modern multirole fighter - the Rafale M, which entered service in 2001. Up until 2016, the air wing was split between the Rafale M and the Super Etendard attack plane. Moving to an all-Rafale wing has not only increased flexibility and lethality, but has also freed up enough space to increase the fighter complement from 24 to 30. Although the 27-ton Rafale M is closer in size to the F/A-18C, its more modern design means that it actually has a slightly heavier payload than the F/A-18E. Although a two-seat Rafale N was planned, it never reached production.
The Rafale M fleet has been fully upgraded to the F3 standard, which includes the RBE2 AESA radar and full air to ground capabilities. The Rafale M also includes an IRST and electro-optic system for passive tracking and improved target identification. However, currently its only air-to-air missile is the MICA, which comes in active radar homing and infrared homing variants, but has less than half the range of the AIM-120D. However, this will soon be remedied as the excellent Meteor missile is currently being integrated. Air-to-surface weapons include the AM39 Exocet antiship missile, the SCALP EG land attack cruise missile, and the mid-range AASM Hammer rocket-propelled guided bomb in addition to conventional laser-guided bombs. Further, the Rafale M is the only current carrier fighter equipped with nuclear weapons, in the form of the ASMP nuclear cruise missile.
Finally, the air wing includes a small number of helicopters. These commonly consist of a pair of AS365F Dauphin 5-ton light utility helicopters (they are actually civilian models) for plane guard duties, and a pair of NH90 Caiman 12-ton medium helicopters for search and rescue operations and general transport missions. Interestingly, the Charles de Gaulle air wing is the only current air wing that does not include any ASW aircraft, instead trusting to the helicopters embarked on her escorts.
Although it is theoretically possible to operate a fixed-wing AEW plane off a STOBAR carrier, no navy has yet done so. Instead, they have relied on AEW helicopters. For Liaoning, this consists of 4 Z-18J Bats, a 14-ton heavily upgraded variant of the Z-8 (a Chinese copy of the French SA321 Super Frelon). Another 6 Z-18F Sea Eagle antisubmarine helicopters are also embarked. While the Z-18J carries a large AESA air-search radar that is deployed from the rear ramp, the Z-18F is equipped with a dipping sonar, nose-mounted surface-search radar, electro-optic sensors, 30 sonobouys, and 2 (possibly 4) lightweight Yu-7K torpedoes or YJ-9 antiship missiles.
The core of Liaoning’s air wing is 24 J-15 Flying Shark multirole fighters. This 36-ton plane is a combination of the Soviet Su-33 carrier fighter (China acquired a prototype from Ukraine in 2001) and the Chinese J-11B, both of which are derived from the Soviet Su-27 Flanker. While the J-15 is a reasonably fast and maneuverable fighter, the current version is handicapped by obsolescent avionics and weapons. The primary sensor is still a mechanically-scanned radar, while air-to-air weapons consist of the PL-12 medium-range active radar homing and the PL-9C short-range infrared homing missiles, which are roughly equivalent to the AIM-120C and AIM-9M. Air-to-surface weapons appear to be even more limited, with the only confirmed guided weapon being the YJ-83K antiship missile.
Rounding out the air wing, Liaoning carries a pair of light utility helicopters for plane guard duty. These are the Z-9, a Chinese copy of the AS365 helicopters employed aboard Charles de Gaulle in the same role.
For fighters, the Indian air wing consists of 24 MiG-29K, a 27-ton single-seat multirole aircraft. Although the MiG-29K project began before the collapse of the USSR, the current MiG-29K only entered service in 2010 and is actually a fairly modern fighter equipped with rather capable avionics, including the Zhuk-ME PESA radar. But, like the Chinese J-15, the Indian MiG-29K is rather limited by its weapons. Air-to-air ordnance consist of the RVV-AE medium-range active radar homing missile and the R-73E short-range infrared homing missile. Neither is a particularly new weapon and performance is roughly equivalent to the Chinese PL-12 and PL-9. While the MiG-29K is actually compatible with a variety of air-to-surface weapons, the only one that is confirmed to have been purchased by the Indian Navy is the Kh-35 Switchblade antiship missile.
Rotary-wing aircraft consist of 10 medium helicopters, split between the Ka-31 for AEW and the Ka-28 for ASW. These are both 13-ton helicopters derived from the Soviet Ka-27. The Ka-31 is equipped with a bottom-mounted rotating air-search radar, while the Ka-28 has a dipping sonar, surface-search radar, magnetic anomaly detector, sonobouys, and a single lightweight torpedo.
Finally, Vikramaditya embarks a small number of Chetak 2.5-ton light utility helicopters for plane guard duty. These are licensed copies of the venerable French Alouette III and were supposed to have been replaced by the domestically-developed Dhruv. However, the Dhruv was deemed unserviceable by the Indian Navy and the Chetak continues to soldier on.
Originally, Kuznetsov was to be equipped with the Su-33, a navalized variant of the Su-27 Flanker that entered service in . However, the collapse of the USSR meant that only 26 Su-33 were built, and 7 of those have since been lost in accidents. Although the remaining 19 Su-33 were upgraded to Su-33M standard, with minor improvements to the engines and avionics, the radar is still the obsolete N001 Mech mechanically-scanned array. Air-to-air weapons consist of the equally obsolete medium-range R-27, which has semi-active radar, infrared, and passive radar homing variants, and the only slightly more modern R-73 short-range infrared homing missile. Making matters worse, the Su-33M is incapable of carrying any guided air to surface weapons, although unguided bombs and rockets were added as part of the Su-33M upgrade.
Fortunately for Russia, India was in need of new carrier aircraft and supplied the money required to restart the MiG-29K program that had been abandoned with the collapse of the USSR. With the production line open, Russia used the opportunity to build 24 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB for herself. Although the MiG-29K is substantially smaller than the Su-33M, it is a much more modern aircraft and in Russian service has access to a variety of weapons, including the Kh-31 Krypton and KAB-500 guided bomb. Unfortunately, the MiG-29K is in many ways too modern for Kuznetsov and the carrier currently lacks the necessary maintenance facilities, preventing the planned replacement of the Su-33M.
The rotary-wing portion of the air wing is also somewhat deficient. Although Russia has sold the Ka-31 AEW helicopter to China and India, Russia herself currently only has 2 of these aircraft. Even assuming both are available for deployment, that is nowhere near enough to maintain continuous coverage - a critical deficiency that severely undermines the air wing's already limited air warfare capabilities. The remaining helicopters consist of two versions of the ubiquitous Ka-27 - the Ka-27PL ASW helicopter, which is somewhat more capable than the Ka-28 export version used by India, and the Ka-27PS utility helicopter, which trades the ASW sensors and weapons for search and rescue equipment. The air wing includes approximately 4 of each version.
Although during the recent Syria deployment Kuznetsov carried a number of Ka-52K attack helicopters, these appear to have been prototypes and not an official part of the air wing. The Ka-52K was originally planned to outfit the Mistral-class assault ships that Russia attempted to purchase from France and the helicopters intended for the Russian Navy seem to have been sold to Egypt instead.
Nimitz-class
The uncontested apex of carrier air wings is found aboard the United State’s 10 Nimitz-class carriers (the Gerald Ford-class will carry the same air wing, although the lead ship is not yet operational). These ships generally operate 64 aircraft, twice as many as their competitors. Further, unlike almost all non-American carriers, the Nimitz-class is equipped for catapult takeoff and arrested recovery (CATOBAR), permitting the operation of heavy aircraft with full loads of weapons and fuel. |
| 2019 Nimitz-class air wing: 4x E-2D, 5x EA-18G, 44x F/A-18E/F, 11x MH-60R/S |
Arguably the most important aircraft in this air wing are its 4 the E-2 Hawkeye 29-ton fixed-wing airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. These planes permit around the clock radar coverage and are also responsible for directing fighter intercepts. The Navy is currently finishing the transition from the older E-2C and its rotating AN/APS-145 radar to the E-2D with its powerful AN/APY-9 AESA radar, which is believed to be capable of detecting stealth aircraft at long ranges through the use of low frequencies and advanced processing techniques.
But the heart of the air wing is its 44 F/A-18 multirole fighters. These come in two distinct variants - the F/A-18C/D Hornet and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The former are 26-ton planes that entered service in 1987 to replace the F-4 Phantom and A-7 Corsair. The F/A-18C is the single-seat version while the F/A-18D is the two-seat version. Unlike in other navies, the two-seat planes are not mere training versions but are fully part of the air wing. As of 2019, both versions have been retired from frontline Navy service, but can still be found in the Marine squadrons that occasionally deploy aboard carriers. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a scaled-up 33-ton variant that entered service in 1999 to replace the F-14 Tomcat and A-6 Intruder. The vast majority of these are the Block II variant, which is equipped with the AN/APG-79 AESA radar, instead of the obsolete AN/APG-73 mechanically-scanned radar found on the older Hornets.
For air-to-air combat the F/A-18 is armed with the AIM-120D AMRAAM medium-range active-radar homing missile and the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range infra-red homing missile. For attack missions the F/A-18 has an even more impressive array of weapons, including the AGM-84N Harpoon Block II antiship missile, the AGM-88E Advanced Antiradiation missile, and the AGM-154 JSOW glide bomb, as well as the usual variety of laser-guided and GPS-guided 500, 1000, and 2000-pound bombs.
The air wing also include 5 EA-18G Growlers, a Super Hornet variant that is specialized for electronic warfare - a capability that is unique to the US Navy. The EA-18G can be equipped with up to 5 AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods, each tuned to different frequencies, on top of its enhanced built-in electronic warfare systems. Further, the EA-18G retains most of the air to air and air to ground capabilities of the base F/A-18 and is commonly armed with AIM-120 and the AGM-88 missiles.
Completing the air wing is a large complement of MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk 12-ton medium helicopters. Officially, 19 of these are assigned to the air wing. However, 8 are generally split among the carrier’s escorting cruisers and destroyers. The MH-60R is the combat variant and is equipped with a multifunction dipping sonar, a surface search radar, an IR sensor, ESM, and a launcher for 25 sonobouys. Weapons include two pylons for a pair of Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes or 8 Hellfire missiles. The MH-60S is the utility variant, but it can still be equipped with an electro-optic sensor and 8 Hellfire.
Charles de Gaulle
The second most powerful carrier air wing is that of the French Charles de Gaulle. Despite being smaller than the Chinese, Russian, British, and Indian carriers, Charles de Gaulle is the only CATOBAR carrier outside of the United States. Further, her 36-plane airwing is composed entirely of modern aircraft with advanced sensors and weapons. |
| 2019 Charles de Gaulle air wing: 2x E-2C, 30x Rafale M F3, 2x NH90, 2x AS365 |
Immediately catching the eye are the two E-2C Hawkeyes, which makes France the only nation other than the United States to operate fixed-wing AEW aircraft and provides a significant advantage in situational awareness. Although the French Navy possesses a total of three E-2C Hawkeyes, only two are embarked aboard Charles de Gaulle at any one time.
But the jewel of the air wing is its modern multirole fighter - the Rafale M, which entered service in 2001. Up until 2016, the air wing was split between the Rafale M and the Super Etendard attack plane. Moving to an all-Rafale wing has not only increased flexibility and lethality, but has also freed up enough space to increase the fighter complement from 24 to 30. Although the 27-ton Rafale M is closer in size to the F/A-18C, its more modern design means that it actually has a slightly heavier payload than the F/A-18E. Although a two-seat Rafale N was planned, it never reached production.
The Rafale M fleet has been fully upgraded to the F3 standard, which includes the RBE2 AESA radar and full air to ground capabilities. The Rafale M also includes an IRST and electro-optic system for passive tracking and improved target identification. However, currently its only air-to-air missile is the MICA, which comes in active radar homing and infrared homing variants, but has less than half the range of the AIM-120D. However, this will soon be remedied as the excellent Meteor missile is currently being integrated. Air-to-surface weapons include the AM39 Exocet antiship missile, the SCALP EG land attack cruise missile, and the mid-range AASM Hammer rocket-propelled guided bomb in addition to conventional laser-guided bombs. Further, the Rafale M is the only current carrier fighter equipped with nuclear weapons, in the form of the ASMP nuclear cruise missile.
Finally, the air wing includes a small number of helicopters. These commonly consist of a pair of AS365F Dauphin 5-ton light utility helicopters (they are actually civilian models) for plane guard duties, and a pair of NH90 Caiman 12-ton medium helicopters for search and rescue operations and general transport missions. Interestingly, the Charles de Gaulle air wing is the only current air wing that does not include any ASW aircraft, instead trusting to the helicopters embarked on her escorts.
Liaoning
After those of the CATOBAR carriers, the most capable air wing is that of the Chinese Liaoning. It is likely that a similar, if not identical, air wing will also be embarked on China’s as yet unnamed second carrier. Following the pattern set by the USSR, the Chinese have adopted the short takeoff and arrested recovery (STOBAR) method of operations. Although this method is simpler than CATOBAR, ramp launches generally reduce a plane’s maximum takeoff weight and require considerably more deck space (up to 640 feet against the 325 feet of a Nimitz-class catapult), complicating flight operations. Further, although the 36 aircraft of the Chinese air wing matches that of the French in number, the Chinese planes are far less capable and include fewer fighters. |
| 2019 Liaoning air wing: 24x J-15, 4x Z-18J, 6x Z-18F, 2x Z-9 |
Although it is theoretically possible to operate a fixed-wing AEW plane off a STOBAR carrier, no navy has yet done so. Instead, they have relied on AEW helicopters. For Liaoning, this consists of 4 Z-18J Bats, a 14-ton heavily upgraded variant of the Z-8 (a Chinese copy of the French SA321 Super Frelon). Another 6 Z-18F Sea Eagle antisubmarine helicopters are also embarked. While the Z-18J carries a large AESA air-search radar that is deployed from the rear ramp, the Z-18F is equipped with a dipping sonar, nose-mounted surface-search radar, electro-optic sensors, 30 sonobouys, and 2 (possibly 4) lightweight Yu-7K torpedoes or YJ-9 antiship missiles.
The core of Liaoning’s air wing is 24 J-15 Flying Shark multirole fighters. This 36-ton plane is a combination of the Soviet Su-33 carrier fighter (China acquired a prototype from Ukraine in 2001) and the Chinese J-11B, both of which are derived from the Soviet Su-27 Flanker. While the J-15 is a reasonably fast and maneuverable fighter, the current version is handicapped by obsolescent avionics and weapons. The primary sensor is still a mechanically-scanned radar, while air-to-air weapons consist of the PL-12 medium-range active radar homing and the PL-9C short-range infrared homing missiles, which are roughly equivalent to the AIM-120C and AIM-9M. Air-to-surface weapons appear to be even more limited, with the only confirmed guided weapon being the YJ-83K antiship missile.
Rounding out the air wing, Liaoning carries a pair of light utility helicopters for plane guard duty. These are the Z-9, a Chinese copy of the AS365 helicopters employed aboard Charles de Gaulle in the same role.
Vikramaditya
Taking fourth place is the air wing of the Indian carrier Vikramaditya. In many ways, Vikramaditya and her air wing are simply slightly smaller versions of Liaoning and her air wing. Both are heavily modified Soviet STOBAR ships operating mainly Soviet-based aircraft according to fundamentally Western doctrine. Even in terms of numbers and roles of embarked aircraft the two are virtually identical, although the Indian aircraft are slightly smaller. |
| Vikramaditya 2019 air wing: 24x MiG-29K, 5x Ka-31, 5x Ka-28, 2x Chetak |
For fighters, the Indian air wing consists of 24 MiG-29K, a 27-ton single-seat multirole aircraft. Although the MiG-29K project began before the collapse of the USSR, the current MiG-29K only entered service in 2010 and is actually a fairly modern fighter equipped with rather capable avionics, including the Zhuk-ME PESA radar. But, like the Chinese J-15, the Indian MiG-29K is rather limited by its weapons. Air-to-air ordnance consist of the RVV-AE medium-range active radar homing missile and the R-73E short-range infrared homing missile. Neither is a particularly new weapon and performance is roughly equivalent to the Chinese PL-12 and PL-9. While the MiG-29K is actually compatible with a variety of air-to-surface weapons, the only one that is confirmed to have been purchased by the Indian Navy is the Kh-35 Switchblade antiship missile.
Rotary-wing aircraft consist of 10 medium helicopters, split between the Ka-31 for AEW and the Ka-28 for ASW. These are both 13-ton helicopters derived from the Soviet Ka-27. The Ka-31 is equipped with a bottom-mounted rotating air-search radar, while the Ka-28 has a dipping sonar, surface-search radar, magnetic anomaly detector, sonobouys, and a single lightweight torpedo.
Finally, Vikramaditya embarks a small number of Chetak 2.5-ton light utility helicopters for plane guard duty. These are licensed copies of the venerable French Alouette III and were supposed to have been replaced by the domestically-developed Dhruv. However, the Dhruv was deemed unserviceable by the Indian Navy and the Chetak continues to soldier on.
Kuznetsov
Although the Russian Kuznetsov and the Chinese Liaoning share the same basic hull, the two have far from equally powerful air wings. First, Kuznetsov is actually an aviation cruiser, rather than a true aircraft carrier, and is armed with 12 massive SS-N-19 Shipwreck antiship missiles as well as nearly 200 SA-N-9 Gauntlet medium-range surface to air missiles. When the Chinese rebuilt Liaoning, they tore out these weapons and used the space to increase aircraft capacity. Second, the Kuznetsov air wing is the product of several decades of neglect and underfunding, resulting in an inefficient mix of mostly obsolescent aircraft. |
| Kuznetsov 2019 airwing: 5x MiG-29K, 10x Su-33M, 2x Ka-31R, 4x Ka-27PL, 4x Ka-27PS |
Originally, Kuznetsov was to be equipped with the Su-33, a navalized variant of the Su-27 Flanker that entered service in . However, the collapse of the USSR meant that only 26 Su-33 were built, and 7 of those have since been lost in accidents. Although the remaining 19 Su-33 were upgraded to Su-33M standard, with minor improvements to the engines and avionics, the radar is still the obsolete N001 Mech mechanically-scanned array. Air-to-air weapons consist of the equally obsolete medium-range R-27, which has semi-active radar, infrared, and passive radar homing variants, and the only slightly more modern R-73 short-range infrared homing missile. Making matters worse, the Su-33M is incapable of carrying any guided air to surface weapons, although unguided bombs and rockets were added as part of the Su-33M upgrade.
Fortunately for Russia, India was in need of new carrier aircraft and supplied the money required to restart the MiG-29K program that had been abandoned with the collapse of the USSR. With the production line open, Russia used the opportunity to build 24 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB for herself. Although the MiG-29K is substantially smaller than the Su-33M, it is a much more modern aircraft and in Russian service has access to a variety of weapons, including the Kh-31 Krypton and KAB-500 guided bomb. Unfortunately, the MiG-29K is in many ways too modern for Kuznetsov and the carrier currently lacks the necessary maintenance facilities, preventing the planned replacement of the Su-33M.
The rotary-wing portion of the air wing is also somewhat deficient. Although Russia has sold the Ka-31 AEW helicopter to China and India, Russia herself currently only has 2 of these aircraft. Even assuming both are available for deployment, that is nowhere near enough to maintain continuous coverage - a critical deficiency that severely undermines the air wing's already limited air warfare capabilities. The remaining helicopters consist of two versions of the ubiquitous Ka-27 - the Ka-27PL ASW helicopter, which is somewhat more capable than the Ka-28 export version used by India, and the Ka-27PS utility helicopter, which trades the ASW sensors and weapons for search and rescue equipment. The air wing includes approximately 4 of each version.
Although during the recent Syria deployment Kuznetsov carried a number of Ka-52K attack helicopters, these appear to have been prototypes and not an official part of the air wing. The Ka-52K was originally planned to outfit the Mistral-class assault ships that Russia attempted to purchase from France and the helicopters intended for the Russian Navy seem to have been sold to Egypt instead.
