United States Armed Forces

====Naval Surface Forces====
{{main|Naval Surface Forces}}
[[File:USS Zumwalt is on the final leg of its three-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. (31620613005).jpg|thumb|The stealth destroyer {{USS|Zumwalt|DDG-1000}} alongside the {{USS|Independence|LCS-2}}]]

The Naval Surface Forces (NAVSURFOR) is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's combat power, conducting [[surface warfare]] operations and operating its fleet of combat surface ships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usna.edu/SurfaceWarfare/index.php|title=Surface Warfare|website=www.usna.edu}}</ref>

The Naval Surface Forces operates eleven nuclear powered [[aircraft carriers]] (CVN), split between the [[Nimitz-class aircraft carrier|''Nimitz''-class]] and the newer [[Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier|''Gerald R. Ford''-class]]. Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of the U.S. Navy's combat power, forming the nucleus of its eleven [[carrier strike group]]s (CSG). Each aircraft carrier has an embarked [[carrier air wing]] from the Naval Air Forces.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/article/2169795/aircraft-carriers-cvn/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.navy.mil%2FResources%2FFact-Files%2FDisplay-FactFiles%2FArticle%2F2169795%2Faircraft-carriers-cvn%2F|title=Aircraft Carriers - CVN|website=www.navy.mil}}</ref>

The Naval Surface Forces also operate 116 [[surface combatant]]s. These include the [[Ticonderoga-class cruiser|''Ticonderoga''-class]] [[guided-missile cruiser]]s, [[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|''Arleigh Burke-class'']] [[guided-missile destroyer]]s (DDG) and [[Zumwalt-class destroyer|''Zumwalt-class'']] [[stealth ship|stealth]] [[guided-missile destroyer]]s. Cruisers and destroyers often operate as part of a larger formations, where they serve as escorts for [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] and [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] operations, but they also are able to conduct [[sea control]] and striker operations ashore with their [[Tomahawk (missile)|tomahawk]] cruise missiles. The Navy also operates a complement smaller of [[Freedom-class littoral combat ship|''Freedom''-class]] and [[Independence-class littoral combat ship|''Independence''-class]] [[littoral combat ship]]s (LCS) that can be modularly reconfigured for specific mission sets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/SHIPBATTLEFORCE.HTML|title=Ship Battle Forces|website=nvr.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navy.com/life-in-the-navy/vessels|title=Submarines, Carriers, Cruisers & Other Vessels &#124; Navy.com|website=www.navy.com}}</ref> Having lacked a [[frigate]] since the [[Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate|''Oliver Hazard Perry''-class]] was decommissioned, the Navy is in the process of acquiring the new [[Constellation-class frigate|''Constellation''-class]] [[guided-missile frigate]]s (FFG).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/12/27/report-to-congress-on-constellation-class-frigate-program-ffg-62-12|title=Report to Congress on Constellation-class Frigate Program (FFG-62)|date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

Finally, the Naval Surface Forces operate 31 [[amphibious warfare ship]]s to support the [[Fleet Marine Force]] and its embarked [[Marine Air-Ground Task Force]]s as part of an [[amphibious ready group]] or [[expeditionary strike group]]. This includes the [[America-class amphibious assault ship|''America-class'']] [[landing helicopter assault]] (LHA) ships which can carry U.S. Marine Corps [[F-35B Lightning II]] fighters and helicopters, and [[Wasp-class amphibious assault ship|''Wasp-class'']] [[landing helicopter dock]] (LHD) ships, which can carry both F-35B fighters, helicopters, and landing craft. These are in addition to the [[San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock|San Antonio-class]] [[amphibious transport dock]]s (LPD), and the [[Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship|Whidbey Island-class]] and [[Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship|''Harpers Ferry''-class]] [[dock landing ship]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/FLEETSIZE.HTML|title=Fleet Size|website=nvr.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Experience/Military-Units/Navy/|title=Military Units: Navy|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref>