The organic aviation capability of the US Marine Corps is essential to its mission. The US Marine Corps operates both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft mainly to provide assault support and close air support to its ground forces. However, other aircraft types are also used in a variety of support and special-purpose roles.

The light-attack and light transport capabilities are provided by AH-1W SuperCobras and UH-1N Hueys, slated to be replaced by the Bell AH-1Z Viper and the Bell UH-1Y Venom.[111] Medium-lift squadrons flying the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters are in the process of converting to the MV-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor with superior range and speed. Heavy-lift squadrons are equipped with the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, eventually to be replaced with the upgraded CH-53K.

Marine attack squadrons fly the AV-8B Harrier II; while the fighter/attack mission is handled by the single-seat and dual-seat versions of the F/A-18 Hornet strike-fighter aircraft. The AV-8B is a V/STOL aircraft that can operate from amphibious assault ships, land air bases and short, expeditionary airfields, while the F/A-18 can only be flown from land or aircraft carriers. Both are slated to be replaced by the STOVL B version of the F-35 Lightning II, beginning training operations in 2008.

In addition, the Corps operates its own organic aerial refueling and electronic warfare (EW) assets in the form of the KC-130 Hercules and EA-6B Prowler, respectively. The Hercules doubles as a ground refueller and tactical-airlift transport aircraft. The Prowler is the only active tactical electronic warfare aircraft left in the United States inventory, and has been labeled a "national asset"; frequently borrowed along with Navy Prowlers and EA-18G Growlers to assist in any American combat action since the retirement of the Air Force's own EW aircraft.

The US Marines also operate unmanned aerial vehicles: the RQ-7 Shadow and Scan Eagle for tactical reconnaissance.

Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 (VMFT-401), operates F-5E, F-5F and F-5N Tiger II aircraft in support of air combat adversary (aggressor) training. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) operates the VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N Whitehawk helicopters in the VIP transport role, most notably Marine One, but are due to be replaced. A single Marine Corps C-130 Hercules aircraft "Fat Albert" is used to support the US Navy's flight demonstration team, the "Blue Angels".

Aircraft of US Marine Corps

F/A-18 Hornet

  • F/A-18A/C fighter/attack
  • F/A-18B/D fighter/attack

AV-8 Harrier

  • AV-8B Harrier II fighter/attack
  • TAV-8 Harrier trainer

EA-6 Prowler

  • EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare

C-130 Hercules

  • KC-130J Hercules cargo/aerial refueler

AH-1 Cobra

  • AH-1W SuperCobra helicopter gunship
  • AH-1Z Viper helicopter gunship

UH-1 Iroquois

  • UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopter/gunship
  • UH-1Y Venom

CH-46 Sea Knight

  • CH-46E Sea Knight ("Phrog") cargo/passenger helicopter - being replaced by MV-22

CH-53 Sea Stallion/Super Stallion

  • CH-53D Sea Stallion cargo/passenger helicopter - being replaced by MV-22
  • CH-53E Super Stallion upgraded cargo/passenger helicopter

V-22 Osprey

  • MV-22B Osprey cargo/passenger tiltrotor

Unmanned aerial vehicles

  • RQ-7 Shadow reconnaissance
  • RQ-11 Raven reconnaissance
  • RQ-14 Dragon Eye reconnaissance
  • MQ-17 SpyHawk reconnaissance
  • T-20 reconnaissance
  • ScanEagle reconnaissance

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