United States Navy

== Equipment ==
{{Main|Equipment of the United States Navy}}
[[File:George Washington Carrier Strike Group.jpg|thumb|USS ''George Washington'' [[carrier strike group]] sails in formation, 29 April 2006.]]
{{As of|2018}}, the navy operates over 460 ships (including vessels operated by the [[Military Sealift Command]]), 3,650+ aircraft, 50,000 non-combat vehicles and owns 75,200 buildings on {{convert|3300000|acre|km2}}.

=== Ships ===
{{Main|United States Navy ships|Future of the United States Navy}}
{{See also|List of current ships of the United States Navy|List of currently active United States military watercraft|United States ship naming conventions}}

The names of commissioned ships of the U.S. Navy are prefixed with the letters "USS", designating "United States Ship".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html |title=Ship Naming in the United States Navy |publisher=United States Navy |website=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]] |access-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617070146/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html |archive-date=17 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Non-commissioned, civilian-manned vessels of the navy have names that begin with "USNS", standing for "United States Naval Ship". The names of ships are officially selected by the secretary of the navy, often to honor important people or places.<ref>O'Rourke, Ronald. (2013). [https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22478.pdf Navy Ship Names: Background For Congress.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928194627/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RS22478.pdf |date=28 September 2015}} Washington, D.C.: [[Congressional Research Service]].</ref> Additionally, each ship is given a letter-based [[hull classification symbol]] (for example, CVN or DDG) to indicate the vessel's type and number. All ships in the navy inventory are placed in the [[Naval Vessel Register]], which is part of "the Navy List" (required by article 29 of the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]).{{dubious |date=July 2013}} The register tracks data such as the current status of a ship, the date of its commissioning, and the date of its decommissioning. Vessels that are removed from the register prior to disposal are said to be ''stricken'' from the register. The navy also maintains a [[United States Navy reserve fleets|reserve fleet]] of inactive vessels that are maintained for reactivation in times of need.

The U.S. Navy was one of the first to install [[Nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear reactors aboard naval vessels]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Citation&nbsp;– Presidential Unit Citation for making the first submerged voyage under the North Pole |url=http://www.ussnautilus.org/events/panopo50th/puc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204062318/http://www.ussnautilus.org/events/panopo50th/puc.html |archive-date=4 February 2009 |website=[[US Navy Submarine Force Museum and Library|US Navy Submarine Force Museum]]}}</ref> Today, [[Nuclear power|nuclear energy]] powers all active U.S. aircraft carriers and [[submarine]]s.

In early 2010, the U.S. Navy had identified a need for 313 combat ships but could only afford 232 to 243 ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4366292&c=FEA&s=INT |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170525032325/https://www.defensenews.com/error-404 |archive-date=25 May 2017 |title=Vice Adm. Barry McCullough |website=Defense News}}</ref> In March 2014, the Navy started counting self-deployable support ships such as minesweepers, surveillance craft, and tugs in the "battle fleet" to reach a count of 272 as of October 2016,<ref>[http://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/FLEETSIZE.HTML Fleet Size] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001420/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/NVRSHIPS/FLEETSIZE.HTML |date=19 October 2016}} US Navy Retrieved 17 October 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140309/DEFREG02/303090012/US-Navy-Budget-Plan-Major-Questions-Abound |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140309211717/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140309/DEFREG02/303090012/US-Navy-Budget-Plan-Major-Questions-Abound |archive-date=9 March 2014 |title=US Navy Budget Plan: Major Questions Abound |last1=CAVAS |first1=CHRISTOPHER P. |date=9 March 2014 |website= defensenews.com |publisher=Gannett Government Media |access-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> and it includes ships that have been put in "shrink wrap".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://breakingdefense.com/2014/03/outrage-on-capitol-hill-as-navy-changes-ship-counting-rules/ |title=Outrage on Capitol Hill As Navy Changes Ship-Counting Rules |last1=Freedberg |first1=Sydney J. Jr. |date=11 March 2014 |website=breakingdefense.com |publisher=Breaking Media, Inc. |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213008/http://breakingdefense.com/2014/03/outrage-on-capitol-hill-as-navy-changes-ship-counting-rules/ |archive-date=12 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The number of ships generally ranged between 270 and 300 throughout the late 2010s.<ref name="CSR1">{{cite report |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10486 |title=Defense Primer: Naval Forces |author=Ronald O'Rourke |date=21 July 2021 |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |page=2 |access-date=21 July 2021 |archive-date=21 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721154538/https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10486 }}</ref> As of February 2022, the Navy has 296 battle force ships, however analyses state the Navy needs a fleet of more than 500 to meet its commitments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 February 2022 |title=CNO Gilday: 'We Need a Naval Force of Over 500 Ships' |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/02/18/cno-gilday-we-need-a-naval-force-of-over-500-ships |access-date=28 February 2022 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=The Editorial Board |date=23 February 2022 |title=Opinion {{!}} America Needs a Bigger Navy |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/america-needs-a-bigger-navy-admiral-mike-gilday-pentagon-defense-spending-11645649492 |access-date=28 February 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

==== Aircraft carriers ====
{{Main|List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 4 June 2020 (200604-N-BD352-0199).JPG|thumb|Aerial view of {{USS|Gerald R. Ford}} (bottom), a ship of the new {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|4}}, alongside {{USS|Harry S. Truman}} (top), a ship of the previous {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}}]]

[[Aircraft carrier|Aircraft carriers]] act as [[Military airbase|airbases]] for [[carrier-based aircraft]]. They are the largest vessels in the Navy fleet and all are nuclear-powered.<ref name="CSR1" /> An aircraft carrier is typically deployed along with a host of additional vessels, forming a [[carrier strike group]]. The supporting ships, which usually include three or four [[Aegis combat system|Aegis]]-equipped cruisers and destroyers, a frigate, and two attack submarines, are tasked with protecting the carrier from air, missile, sea, and undersea threats as well as providing additional strike capabilities themselves. Ready logistics support for the group is provided by a combined ammunition, oiler, and supply ship. Modern carriers are [[United States ship naming conventions|named]] after American admirals and politicians, usually presidents.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=25 June 2020|title=Report to Congress on U.S. Navy Ship Names|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/06/25/report-to-congress-on-u-s-navy-ship-names-9|access-date=22 July 2020|website=USNI News|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Navy has a statutory requirement for a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idCNN0615186020100507?rpc=44 |title=US Navy to Gates: Yes, we need 11 aircraft carriers |work=[[Reuters]] |date=6 May 2010 |last=Wolf |first=Jim}}</ref> All 11 carriers are currently active, ten {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|0}} and one {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|0}}.

'''Aircraft Carrier Capacity'''

Aircraft Carriers have the ability to house 5,000 people. This is the size of a small town floating in the ocean. Aircraft carriers also have up to 90 aircraft on the ship at one time. 

==== Amphibious warfare ships ====
{{Main|List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships}}
[[File:USS Bataan (LHD-5);10080504.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}}, a {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship}}]]

[[Amphibious assault ship]]s are the centerpieces of US amphibious warfare and fulfill the same power projection role as aircraft carriers except that their striking force centers on land forces instead of aircraft. They deliver, command, coordinate, and fully support all elements of a 2,200-strong [[Marine Expeditionary Unit]] in an amphibious assault using both air and amphibious vehicles. Resembling small aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships are capable of [[V/STOL]], [[STOVL]], [[VTOL]], tiltrotor, and rotary wing aircraft operations. They also contain a [[well deck]] to support the use of [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]] (LCAC) and other amphibious assault watercraft. Recently, amphibious assault ships have begun to be deployed as the core of an [[expeditionary strike group]], which usually consists of an additional [[amphibious transport dock]] and [[dock landing ship]] for amphibious warfare and an Aegis-equipped cruiser and destroyer, frigate, and attack submarine for group defense. Amphibious assault ships are typically named after World War II aircraft carriers.

[[Amphibious transport docks]] are warships that embark, transport, and land Marines, supplies, and equipment in a supporting role during amphibious warfare missions. With a landing platform, amphibious transport docks also have the capability to serve as secondary aviation support for an expeditionary group. All amphibious transport docks can operate helicopters, LCACs, and other conventional amphibious vehicles while the newer ''San Antonio'' class of ships has been explicitly designed to operate all three elements of the Marines' "mobility triad": [[Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle]]s (EFVs), the [[V-22 Osprey]] tiltrotor aircraft, and LCACs. Amphibious transport docks are typically named after U.S. cities.

The dock landing ship is a medium amphibious transport that is designed specifically to support and operate LCACs, though it is able to operate other amphibious assault vehicles in the United States inventory as well. Dock landing ships are normally deployed as a component of an expeditionary strike group's amphibious assault contingent, operating as a secondary launch platform for LCACs. All dock landing ships are named after cities or important places in U.S. and U.S. Naval history.<ref name=":1" />

The Navy operates 32 amphibious warfare ships, eight {{sclass|Wasp|amphibious assault ship|4}} and two {{sclass|America|amphibious assault ship|4}} amphibious assault ships, four {{sclass|Harpers Ferry|dock landing ship|4}} and six {{sclass|Whidbey Island|dock landing ship|4}} dock landing ships, and 12 {{sclass|San Antonio|amphibious transport dock|4}} amphibious transport dock ships.

==== Cruisers ====
{{Main|List of cruisers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:US Navy 030903-N-5024R-003 USS Port Royal (DDG 73) departed on deployment.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Port Royal|CG-73|6}}, a {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser}}]]

[[Cruiser]]s are large surface combat vessels that conduct anti-air/anti-missile warfare, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and strike operations independently or as members of a larger task force. Modern guided missile cruisers were developed out of a need to counter the [[anti-ship missile]] threat facing the United States Navy. This led to the development of the [[AN/SPY-1]] phased array radar and the [[RIM-67 Standard]] missile with the Aegis combat system coordinating the two. {{sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|2}}<nowiki/>s were the first to be equipped with Aegis and were put to use primarily as anti-air and anti-missile defense in a battle force protection role. Later developments of [[vertical launch system]]s and the [[BGM-109 Tomahawk|Tomahawk missile]] gave cruisers additional long-range land and sea strike capability, making them capable of both offensive and defensive battle operations. The ''Ticonderoga'' class is the only active class of cruiser. All cruisers in this class are named after battles.<ref name=":1" />

==== Destroyers ====
{{Main|List of destroyers of the United States Navy}}
[[File:DDG-125 acceptance trials.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Jack H. Lucas}}, a {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|1}}]]
[[Destroyer]]s are multi-mission medium surface ships capable of sustained performance in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and offensive strike operations. Like cruisers, guided missile destroyers are primarily focused on surface strikes using Tomahawk missiles and fleet defense through Aegis and the Standard missile. Destroyers additionally specialize in anti-submarine warfare and are equipped with [[ASROC|VLA rockets]] and [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|LAMPS Mk III Sea Hawk]] helicopters to deal with underwater threats. When deployed with a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group, destroyers and their fellow Aegis-equipped cruisers are primarily tasked with defending the fleet while providing secondary strike capabilities. With very few exceptions, destroyers are named after U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard heroes.<ref name=":1" />

The U.S. Navy currently has 75 destroyers, 73 {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|0}} destroyers and two {{sclass|Zumwalt|destroyer|0}} stealth destroyers, with a third (the {{USS|Lyndon B. Johnson}}) expected to enter service sometime in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-13 |title=Last Zumwalt-class Destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson Leaves Bath Iron Works Bound for Mississippi |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/01/13/last-zumwalt-class-destroyer-lyndon-b-johnson-leaves-bath-iron-works-bound-for-mississippi |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Frigates and Littoral combat ships ====
{{Main|List of frigates of the United States Navy}}
{{See also|Littoral combat ship}}
[[File:USS Independence LCS-2 at pierce (cropped).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Independence|LCS-2|6}}, a [[littoral combat ship]]]]

Modern U.S. [[frigate]]s mainly perform anti-submarine warfare for carrier and expeditionary strike groups and provide armed escort for supply convoys and merchant shipping. They are designed to protect friendly ships against hostile submarines in low to medium threat environments, using torpedoes and LAMPS helicopters. Independently, frigates are able to conduct counterdrug missions and other maritime interception operations. As in the case of destroyers, frigates are named after U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard heroes.

In late 2015, the U.S. Navy retired its most recent class of traditional frigates in favor of the littoral combat ship (LCS), relatively small vessels designed for near-shore operations that was expected to assume many of the duties the frigate had with the fleet. The LCS was "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating [[Anti-access/area denial|anti-access]] and [[Asymmetric warfare|asymmetric threats]] in the [[Littoral zone|littorals]]",<ref>{{cite web |title=Product Lines at Supship Bath |url=http://www.navsea.navy.mil/supship/Bath/Products.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301113457/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/supship/Bath/Products.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012 |publisher=Navsea.navy.mil}}</ref> although their ability to perform these missions in practice has been called into question.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-04 |title=The Pentagon Saw a Warship Boondoggle. Congress Saw Jobs. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/littoral-combat-ships-lobbying.html |access-date=2023-03-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The Navy has announced it plans to reduce procurement of the LCS and retire early examples of the type.

In the future, the Navy plans to purchase up to 20 of the {{sclass|Constellation|frigate|1}}, based on the [[FREMM multipurpose frigate]], already in service with European navies.

The U.S. Navy currently has 23 littoral combat ships, eight {{sclass|Freedom|littoral combat ship|0}} and 15 {{sclass|Independence|littoral combat ship|0}} ships.

[[File:USS Constitution fires a 17-gun salute.jpg|thumb|[[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']], firing a 17-gun salute in 2014]]
A special case is the {{USS|Constitution}}, commissioned in 1797 as one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy and which remains in commission at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. She occasionally sails for commemorative events such as [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]].

==== Mine countermeasures ships ====
{{Main|List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy}}

[[Mine countermeasures vessel]]s are a combination of [[minehunter]]s, a naval vessel that actively detects and destroys individual [[naval mine]]s, and [[minesweeper]]s, which clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of the mines. MCM vessels have mostly legacy names of previous US Navy ships, especially World War II-era minesweepers.

The Navy operates eight {{sclass|Avenger|mine countermeasures ship|1}}s, with four expected to be retired in 2024.

==== Submarines ====
{{Main|Submarines in the United States Navy}}
[[File:USS Kentucky (SSBN-737).jpg|thumb|{{USS|Kentucky|SSBN-737|6}}, an {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|0}} [[ballistic missile submarine]]]]

The U.S. Navy operates three types of submarines: [[attack submarine]]s, [[ballistic missile submarine]]s and [[guided missile submarine]]s. All current and planned U.S. Navy submarines are nuclear-powered, as nuclear propulsion allows for a combination of stealth and long-duration, high-speed, sustained underwater movement.

Attack submarines typically operate as part of a [[carrier battle group]], while [[guided missile submarine]]s generally operate independently and carry larger quantities of cruise missiles. Both types have several tactical missions, including sinking ships and other subs, launching [[cruise missile]]s, gathering intelligence, and assisting in special operations. Ballistic missile submarines operate independently with only one mission: to carry and, if called upon, to launch the [[Trident nuclear missile]].

The Navy operates 69 submarines, 29 {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|4}} attack submarines (with two more in reserve), 18 {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|4}} submarines with 14 configured as ballistic missile submarines and four configured as guided missile submarines, three {{sclass|Seawolf|submarine|4}} attack submarines, and 19 {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|4}} attack submarines.

=== Aircraft ===
{{Main|List of active United States naval aircraft}}
{{See also|List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons|List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)}}
[[File:Four Super Hornets.jpg|thumb|Four Navy [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]s]]

Carrier-based aircraft are able to strike air, sea, and land targets far from a carrier strike group while protecting friendly forces from enemy aircraft, ships, and submarines. In peacetime, aircraft's ability to project the threat of sustained attack from a mobile platform on the seas gives United States leaders significant diplomatic and crisis-management options. Aircraft additionally provide logistics support to maintain the navy's readiness and, through helicopters, supply platforms with which to conduct [[search and rescue]], [[special operations]], anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare, including the U.S. Navy's premier Maritime Strike and only organic ASW aircraft, the venerable Sikorsky MH-60R operated by [[Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing]].

The U.S. Navy began to research the use of aircraft at sea in the 1910s, with Lieutenant Theodore G. "Spuds" Ellyson becoming the first naval aviator on 28 January 1911, and commissioned its first aircraft carrier, {{USS|Langley|CV-1}}, in 1922.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=1 |title=A Brief History of U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers: Part I – The Early Years |publisher=United States Navy |website=The Carriers |access-date=30 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620115219/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=1 |archive-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> United States naval aviation fully came of age in World War II, when it became clear following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the Battle of Midway that aircraft carriers and the planes that they carried had replaced the battleship as the greatest weapon on the seas. Leading navy aircraft in World War II included the [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]], the [[Grumman F6F Hellcat]], the Chance [[Vought F4U Corsair]], the [[Douglas SBD Dauntless]], and the [[Grumman TBF Avenger]]. Navy aircraft also played a significant role in conflicts during the following Cold War years, with the [[F-4 Phantom II]] and the [[F-14 Tomcat]] becoming military icons of the era. The navy's current primary fighter-attack airplane is the multi-mission [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]. The [[F-35 Lightning II|F-35C]] entered service in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74523 |title=Services Deliver F-35 Initial Operational Capability Timelines to Congress |work=Navy News Service |date=31 May 2013 |id=NNS130531-06 |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306060623/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74523 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Navy is also looking to eventually replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets with the [[F/A-XX]] program.

The Aircraft Investment Plan sees naval aviation growing from 30 percent of current aviation forces to half of all procurement funding over the next three decades.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/winslow-t-wheeler/this-pentagon-needs-watch_b_492210.html |title=This Pentagon Needs Watching |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |last=Wheeler |first=Winslow T. |date=9 March 2010 |access-date=13 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327071141/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/winslow-t-wheeler/this-pentagon-needs-watch_b_492210.html |archive-date=27 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Weapons ===
{{Main|List of United States Navy weapons}}
[[File:US Navy 050112-N-5345W-074 Aviation Ordnancemen prepare to load 500-pound laser guided bombs (GBU-12) onto weapon pylons under an F-14B Tomcat.jpg|thumb|Aviation Ordnancemen loading [[GBU-12 Paveway II|GBU-12]] bombs in 2005]]

Current U.S. Navy shipboard weapons systems are almost entirely focused on missiles, both as a weapon and as a threat. In an offensive role, missiles are intended to strike targets at long distances with accuracy and precision. Because they are unmanned weapons, missiles allow for attacks on heavily defended targets without risk to human pilots. Land strikes are the domain of the BGM-109 Tomahawk, which was first deployed in the 1980s and is continually being updated to increase its capabilities. For anti-ship strikes, the navy's dedicated missile is the [[Harpoon Missile]]. To defend against enemy missile attack, the navy operates a number of systems that are all coordinated by the Aegis combat system. Medium-long range defense is provided by the Standard Missile 2, which has been deployed since the 1980s. The Standard missile doubles as the primary shipboard anti-aircraft weapon and is undergoing development for use in theater ballistic missile defense. Short range defense against missiles is provided by the [[Phalanx CIWS]] and the more recently developed [[ESSM|RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile]]. In addition to missiles, the navy employs [[Mark 46 torpedo|Mark 46]], [[Mark 48 torpedo|Mark 48]], and [[Mark 50 torpedo|Mark 50]] [[torpedo]]es and various types of naval mines.

Naval fixed-wing aircraft employ much of the same weapons as the [[United States Air Force]] for both air-to-air and air-to-surface combat. Air engagements are handled by the heat-seeking [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|Sidewinder]] and the radar guided [[AIM-120 AMRAAM|AMRAAM]] missiles along with the [[M61 Vulcan]] cannon for close range dogfighting. For surface strikes, navy aircraft use a combination of missiles, smart bombs, and dumb bombs. On the list of available missiles are the [[AGM-65 Maverick|Maverick]], [[AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER|SLAM-ER]] and [[AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon|JSOW]]. Smart bombs include the GPS-guided [[JDAM]] and the laser-guided [[Paveway]] series. Unguided munitions such as dumb bombs and [[cluster bomb]]s make up the rest of the weapons deployed by fixed-wing aircraft.

Rotary aircraft weapons are focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and light to medium surface engagements. To combat submarines, helicopters use Mark 46 and Mark 50 torpedoes. Against small watercraft, they use [[AGM-114 Hellfire|Hellfire]] and [[Penguin missile|Penguin]] air to surface missiles. Helicopters also employ various types of mounted anti-personnel machine guns, including the [[M60 machine gun|M60]], [[M240 machine gun|M240]], [[GAU-16]]/A, and [[Minigun|GAU-17/A]].

Nuclear weapons in the U.S. Navy arsenal are deployed through ballistic missile submarines and aircraft. The ''Ohio''-class submarine carries the latest iteration of the [[Trident missile]], a three-stage, [[submarine-launched ballistic missile]] (SLBM) with [[MIRV]] capability; the current Trident II (D5) version is expected to be in service past 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=1400&ct=2 |title=''Trident'' Fleet Ballistic Missile |website=U.S. Navy Fact File |access-date=8 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405151239/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=1400&ct=2 |archive-date=5 April 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The navy's other nuclear weapon is the air-deployed [[B61 nuclear bomb]]. The B61 is a thermonuclear device that can be dropped by strike aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet at high speed from a large range of altitudes. It can be released through free-fall or parachute and can be set to detonate in the air or on the ground.