Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) is a key part of US naval power projection.

Assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), it provides the reach and flexibility that define Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12).

The Ford can carry up to 90 aircraft and launch 50 percent more sorties than the Nimitz-class.

This gives CVW-8 the combat power of one and a half carriers, making the link between ship and air wing critical to US global presence.

Strike capability

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is the backbone of CVW-8.

The single-seat F/A-18E and twin-seat F/A-18F are multirole fighters, able to shift between air superiority and precision strike.

The F/A-18E allows one pilot to manage both flying and weapons, while the F/A-18F adds a weapons systems officer (WSO) to handle sensors and targeting.

The Super Hornet can exceed Mach 1.7, climb above 15,000 meters, and carry a wide range of weapons.

These include air-to-air missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, guided bombs, and naval mines, giving CVW-8 broad combat flexibility.

Electronic warfare

The EA-18G Growler, based on the F/A-18F, delivers advanced electronic warfare.

It jams radar and communications, protecting US. aircraft and opening the way for strikes.

With a pilot and WSO, the Growler can both escort formations and disrupt enemy defenses, making it a true force multiplier.

Meanwhile, the E-2D Hawkeye provides airborne early warning and command and control, extending awareness across the strike group.

Helicopter squadrons flying the MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawks add combat search and rescue, logistics, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface capabilities.

CVW-8 reflects the Navy’s push for multi-domain operations and adaptability in high-threat environments.

Paired with the Ford’s increased sortie rate, it shows how fewer carriers can deliver more combat power while maintaining US operational dominance.

Carrier Air Wing 8 is more than a complement to the Ford -- it is the combat engine that turns the carrier into a forward-deployed tool of deterrence and war-fighting power.