List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons This is a list of United States Navy aircraft squadrons . " Deactivated " or " disestablished " squadrons are listed in the List of Inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons . Navy aircraft squadron s are typically composed of several aircraft ( from as few as two to as many as several dozen ) , the officers who fly them and the men and women that maintain them . Most squadrons also have a number of other administrative support personnel . Some of the activities listed are not technically " squadrons " , but they all operate U . S . Navy aircraft in some capacity . Squadron organization . Active duty squadrons are typically commanded by a Commander . Second in command is the Executive Officer ( XO ) , also a Commander . The XO typically assumes command of the squadron after approximately 15 months . There are typically four functional departments - Operations , Maintenance , Safety / NATOPS , and Administration - each led by a Lieutenant Commander functioning as the Department Head . Within the departments are Divisions ( each typically headed by a Lieutenant ) and Branches ( headed by a Lieutenant , junior grade or a Chief Petty Officer ) . Reserve squadrons are also commanded by a Commander , with another Commander as the XO who will also assume command after approximately 15 months . However , reserve squadron demographics are typically older and more senior in rank than their active duty squadron counterparts . Department Heads in reserve squadrons are typically senior Lieutenant Commanders , although some may be recently promoted Commanders . Where this difference in maturity level becomes more apparent is at the Division Officer level . Since most officers in reserve squadrons previously served on active duty in the Regular Navy in a flying status for eight to ten or more years , they are typically already Lieutenant Commanders , or achieve that rank shortly after transferring to the Navy Reserve . As a result , Lieutenants are a minority and Lieutenants , junior grade , practically non - existent in reserve squadrons . As a result , Divisions are typically headed by Lieutenant Commanders and Branches by Lieutenants , Senior Chief Petty Officer s or Chief Petty Officers . Types of squadrons . Navy aircraft are classified by Type ( rotary wing , fixed wing ) , Model ( e . g . SH - 60 ) , and Series ( e . g . , SH - 60B versus SH - 60F ) . Squadrons can be categorized in a number of ways : Active versus Navy Reserve , land - based versus sea - based , fixed wing versus rotary wing ( helicopter ) vs Unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) , and by mission . Unlike the USAF , US Army , and USMC , the US Navy does not typically refer to other organizations ( such as maintenance or medical units ) as " squadrons " . An exception to this is that US Navy destroyer s and submarine s are administratively grouped by " squadrons " . " Active " squadrons are those in the regular US Navy . " Reserve " squadrons are in the US Navy Reserve and are manned by a combination of full - time and part - time reservists . For the most part , there is no way to know by the squadron ' s name alone whether it is an active or reserve squadron . There are Reserve elements of many Active squadrons , and active duty personnel serving in many Reserve squadrons . In general , reserve squadrons share the same missions as their active counterparts , although there are Reserve missions ( e . g . , Adversary and Fleet Logistics Support ) that have no Active counterpart . At any one time , the US Navy has approximately 600 aircraft that are associated with particular ships . There are also several thousand additional Navy aircraft that are " capable " of shipboard operations , but are not associated with a ship . The Navy also has several hundred land - based aircraft that are " not " capable of shipboard operations . Squadrons are listed here by type ( fixed / rotary wing ) and by mission . Squadron names . Navy aircraft squadrons can be properly referred to by three different names . The names can give an indication of the squadron ' s mission and type of aircraft . Fixed Wing Squadrons . Most Navy fixed wing squadron informal names start with the letter " V " . A notable exception to this rule was the use of " RVAH " to denote Reconnaissance Attack Squadrons which operated the RA - 5C Vigilante during the 1960s and 1970s . Carrier Tactical Electronic Warfare . A typical Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron consists of four EA - 18G Growler s . The primary mission of the Growler is Electronic Attack ( EA ) , also known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ( SEAD ) in support of strike aircraft and ground troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within the combat area . Navy Electronic Attack squadrons carry the letters VAQ ( V - fixed wing , A - attack , Q - electronic ) . Most VAQ squadrons are carrier based , however a number are " expeditionary " , deploying to overseas land bases . When not deployed ( either on land or carrier ) are home - ported at NAS Whidbey Island . . Two exceptions are VAQ - 141 ( forward deployed to NAF Atsugi , Japan ) and Reserve VAQ - 209 based at Andrews AFB , Md Carrier Airborne Early Warning . Each Carrier Airborne Early Warning squadron usually consists of four E - 2C Hawkeyes , The Hawkeye ' s primary mission is to provide all - weather airborne early warning , airborne battle management and command and control ( C2 ) functions for the Carrier Strike Group and Joint Force Commander . Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination , air interdiction , offensive and defensive counter air control , close air support coordination , time critical strike coordination , search and rescue airborne coordination and communications relay . The E - 2 Hawkeye and C - 2 Greyhound are built on the same airframe and have many similar characteristics . For this reason , both aircraft are trained for in the same Fleet Replacement Squadron . Strike Fighter . A Strike Fighter Squadron is usually made up of ten to twelve F / A - 18 Hornet s or F / A - 18E / F Super Hornet s . The Hornet is an all - weather aircraft that is used for attack and fighter missions . In its fighter mode , the F / A - 18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet air defense ; in its attack mode , it is used for force projection , interdiction and close and deep air support . The F / A - 18 is also used for SEAD and aerial refueling . Fleet Air Reconnaissance . Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE is the Navy ' s only land - based signals intelligence ( SIGINT ) reconnaissance squadron . The 13 aircraft in the Navy ' s inventory are based on the Orion P - 3 airframe and provide fleet and theater commanders worldwide with near real - time tactical SIGINT . With sensitive receivers and high - gain dish antennas , the EP - 3E exploits a wide range of electronic emissions from deep within targeted territory . Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons THREE and FOUR provide communications relay and strategic airborne command post missions . They provide survivable , reliable , and endurable airborne command , control , and communications between the National Command Authority ( NCA ) and U . S . strategic and non - strategic forces . The TACAMO ( " Take Charge and Move Out " ) mission links the NCA with naval ballistic missile submarine forces during times of crisis . The aircraft carries a very low frequency communication system with dual trailing wire antennae . The E - 6B is a dual - mission aircraft , capable of fulfilling the airborne strategic command post mission and is equipped with an airborne launch control system ( ALCS ) , which is capable of launching U . S . land based intercontinental ballistic missile s . Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron SEVEN is the E - 6B Fleet Replacement Squadron , providing initial and requalification training for pilots , aircrews , and maintainers . In addition to operating E - 6B ' s on loan from VQ - 3 and VQ - 4 , VQ - 7 also leases Boeing 737 aircraft , with which it conducts initial pilot training . Fleet Fighter Composite . Fleet Fighter Composite squadrons provide adversary simulation for fleet squadrons . All VFC squadrons are from the Navy Reserve . Fleet Logistics Support . Fleet Logistics Support squadrons operate Navy unique airlift aircraft on a worldwide basis to provide responsive , flexible , and rapidly deployable air logistics support required to sustain combat operations from the sea . During peacetime , squadrons provide air logistics support for all Navy commands as well as provide continuous quality training for mobilization readiness . Fleet Logistics Support squadrons have no counterpart in the Regular Navy . They represent 100 % of the Navy ' s medium and heavy intra - theater airlift , and operate year - round , around the world providing the critical link between deployed seagoing units and air mobility command logistics hubs . VR - 1 provides dedicated airlift support to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy , Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps . All VR squadrons are from the Navy Reserve . Carrier Fleet Logistics Support . There are two Carrier Fleet Logistic Support squadrons - one on each coast . VRC - 30 is based at Naval Air Station North Island , VRC - 40 is based at Naval Station Norfolk . These squadrons send two - plane detachments with each deploying aircraft carrier . The C - 2A Greyhound , more commonly referred to as a " COD " ( short for Carrier onboard delivery ) , is used to deliver high priority parts , supplies , people , and mail to / from the carrier and shore sites near the carrier operating area . Patrol . Maritime patrol aircraft are used primarily for reconnaissance , anti - surface warfare and anti - submarine warfare . Training . There are three types of fixed wing training squadrons - Primary , Intermediate , and Advanced - that train Student Naval Aviators to become United States Naval Aviator s and Naval Flight Officer s in the Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard . Some United States Air Force pilots are also trained in Navy squadrons . Likewise , some Student Naval Aviators receive some of their training at USAF training squadrons . Navy training aircraft are typically painted orange and white . Other . Some of these organizations are not technically " squadrons " , however they have custody of and routinely fly Navy aircraft . Helicopter Squadrons . US Navy helicopters are used for antisubmarine warfare , antisurface warfare , mine warfare , combat search and rescue , special operations , and vertical replenishment missions . The USN helicopter community , in accordance with the " Helicopter Master Plan " , is currently undergoing a transformation to reduce costs and infrastructure . The plan calls for expanding warfighting capabilities , modernizing the force , necking down from eight to three aircraft types , and consolidating force structure where possible . This plan is also leading to the renaming of many squadrons . All Navy helicopter ( or rotary wing ) squadrons ' informal names start with the letter " H " . Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron . The Mine Countermeasures Squadrons are each made up of 16 MH - 53E Sea Dragon helicopters . The primary mission of the Sea Dragon is Airborne Mine Countermeasures ( AMCM ) . The MH - 53 can operate from carriers and other warships and is capable of towing a variety of mine hunting / sweeping countermeasures systems . The MH - 53E Sea Dragon is also a capable heavy - lift asset , with three powerful turboshaft engines and a maximum take - off weight of . This gives the Sea Dragon the capability to carry an impressive amount of cargo , personnel or equipment over long distances . The Sea Dragon remains in service as the Navy ' s only heavy - lift helicopter . Helicopter Anti - Submarine Squadrons . Helicopter Anti - Submarine squadrons are composite squadrons usually made up of four to six SH - 60F Seahawks and two to four HH - 60H Seahawks . Both Aircraft are Carrier - Based . The SH - 60Fs primary mission is Anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) defense of the inner zone , which includes detection , classification and destruction of hostile submarines . HH - 60Hs primary mission is combat search and rescue ( CSAR ) , Naval Special Warfare support ( NSW ) and anti - surface warfare ( ASUW ) . Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons . The Sea Combat Squadron combines both the strike capability of the Helicopter Anti - submarine wing and the cargo capability of the Helicopter Combat Support wing into its primary mission . Over the next decade all HC and HS squadrons will transition to Sea Combat Squadrons upon receiving the MH - 60S . Helicopter Anti - Submarine ( Light ) Squadrons . Anti - Submarine Light squadrons each operate between six and fifteen SH - 60 B LAMPS III helicopters . The SH - 60Bs primary mission is to provide fully mission capable detachments aboard cruisers , destroyers , and frigates assigned to the Fleet . These detachments are an integral part of the ships weapon system , extending the ships under - sea and anti - ship warfare capabilities beyond the horizon . all Helicopter Anti - Submarine ( Light ) Squadrons are schedule to be redesignated Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons . This change will reflect the switch to the MH - 60R Seahawk and the squadrons new multi - mission capability . Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons . Helicopter Maritime Strike squadrons operate the MH - 60R Seahawk . The first operational fleet squadron to receive the Romeo is HSM - 71 in fiscal year 2008 . The new squadron designation was created to reflect the MH - 60Rs multi - mission capabilities . Eventually all Anti - submarine ( Light ) squadrons will transition to the MH - 60R and be redesignated HSM . Helicopter Training Squadrons . The United States Navy ' s Helicopter Training Squadrons provide advanced helicopter flight instruction to all Navy , US Marine Corps , and United States Coast Guard helicopter flight students as well as international students from several allied nations . Students who successfully complete the program earn the right to wear the coveted " Wings of Gold . " UAV Squadrons . Fleet Composite squadrons ' primary missions include providing fixed wing and helicopter services to the Fleet in support of the United States and Allied operational training exercises and operating the Navy ' s only operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( UAV ) . This aircraft is utilized primarily in reconnaissance missions . Tactical employment of this unique asset primarily supports both Battle Group deployments and Amphibious Warfare Operations . Unmanned Reconnaissance Helicopter Squadrons . The Unmanned Reconnaissance Helicopter Squadrons ' mission is to support Intelligence , Surveillance , and Reconnaissance demands for conventional forces and special forces . They will be used by HSM and HSC Expeditionary detachments to support Littoral Combat Ship operations and will also be used by unmanned detachments on other aviation capable navy ships . The aviation platforms will consist of the MQ - 8B , flown by SH - 60 aviators , and the MQ - 8C Fire - X , flown by enlisted operators . Test and Evaluation . Test and Evaluation squadrons test everything from basic aircraft flying qualities to advanced aerodynamics . VX - 1 and VX - 9 report to the Commander , Operational Test and Evaluation Force ( OPTEVFOR ) .