Carrier Air Group

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A Carrier Air Group, properly called a Carrier Air Wing and abbreviated as CVW, is the striking element of an aircraft carrier. The commanding officer of a Carrier Air Wing is known as CAG in naval paralance. The makeup of an Air Wing provides the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Commander the tactical flexibility to handle any arising threats at sea or over coastal lands.


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Composition

A modern US Navy air wing consists of three Navy Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) of F/A-18 Hornets, and one additional Strike Fighter Squadron provided from the US Marine Corps (VMFA), one Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) of EA-6B Prowlers, one Sea Control Squadron (VS) of (S-3|S-3B Vikings), one Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) of E-2C Hawkeyes, a detachment from a Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) of C-2 Greyhounds and one Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) of SH-60F & HH-60H Seahawks.

This composition allows for broad striking power hundreds of miles from the carriers position while providing defense in depth through early warning and detection of airborne, surface and subsurface targets and rapid prosecution of these threats.

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History

The Carrier Air Group originated with the commissioning of the first aircraft carriers in the United States Navy. In the years prior to World War II the Carrier Air Group would be given the same number as the hull number of the carrier they were attached to, with Air Group 1 flying from USS Langley (CV-1), Air Group 2 flying from USS Lexington (CV-2), and so on. In the early months of the war the need to replace the Air Groups that were decimated at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway made such arrangements impossible, and Carrier Air Group numbers became independent of the carriers they were assigned to.

As naval aircraft evolved the system of designation and naming of carrier air wings likewise changed. Each air wing was designed to be a balanced mix of fighting power and defense to provide the maximum benefit in combat to commanders. As weapons systems changed so too did the need for them in an air wing, such as Torpedo Attack Squadrons and Attack Squadrons.

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Future

Currently, the planned structure for the Carrier Air Group in the coming year will be more integrated in to the battle group. The main striking force will be four squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets, two of which, at least, as Super Hornet "E" and "F" variants. The EA-6B Prowler squadrons will be transitioning to the EA-18G Growler. The S-3B Vikings are currently in the Sundown Transition making their final deployments in 2007 before being stricken from the Navy, while the E-2 Hawkeyes will remain.

The biggest proposed change will be with the SH-60 Seahawks. One plan is to have one squadron of the "R" model, called a "Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron" permanently assigned on the carrier with detachments on the escort ships, and a squadron of the "S" model, called the "Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron" concurrently based on the carrier and striek group resupply ship.

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US Navy Air Wings

Current

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