Lockheed Martin: S-3 Viking Carrier Onboard Delivery airplanes Now!
The Issue
The Northrop Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a retired twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to carry supplies, mail and passengers to and from aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. Its primary mission was carrier onboard delivery (COD). The aircraft provided critical logistics support to carrier strike groups. The aircraft was mainly used for high-priority cargo such as jet engines and special stores, mail, and passengers between carriers and shore bases. Prototype C-2s first flew in 1964, and production followed the next year. The initial Greyhound aircraft were overhauled in 1973.
In 1984, more C-2As were ordered under designation Reprocured C-2A or C-2A(R). In 2010, all C-2A(R) aircraft received updated propellers (from four to eight blades) and navigational updates (glass cockpit). The U.S. Navy began replacing the remaining 27 C-2As with 44 Bell Boeing CMV-22Bs Osprey tiltrotors in 2020 and fully replaced the Greyhound for the COD mission in 2026.
In June 2026, the C-2 made its last carrier arrested landing onboard the USS Nimitz; the aircraft belonged to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron VRC-40, the last operational C-2 squadron.
On 28 July 2026, the C-2 conducted its final flight from NAS Norfolk, Virginia to NAS Pensacola, Florida. Upon arrival to the naval air station, the C-2 was officially retired from service. The specific aircraft flown, registered as Bureau Number 162159, is to be displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.
During April 2014, Lockheed Martin announced that they would offer refurbished and remanufactured S-3s, dubbed the C-3, as a replacement for the Northrop Grumman C-2A Greyhound for carrier onboard delivery. The requirement for 35 aircraft would be met from the 91 S-3s currently in storage.
Naval analysts have suggested that the U.S. Navy return to service an unspecified quantity of the stored S-3s in order to fill gaps that were left in the carrier air wing when it was retired. This move was promoted as a response to the realization that the Chinese navy is producing increasingly capable weapons that can threaten carriers beyond the range their aircraft can strike them. Against the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs have about half the unrefueled strike range, so bringing the S-3 back to aerial tanking duties would extend their range against it, as well as free up Super Hornets forced into tanking. Against submarines armed with anti-ship cruise missiles like the Klub and YJ-18, the S-3 would restore area coverage for ASW duties. Bringing the S-3 out of retirement could at least be a stop-gap measure to increase the survivability and capabilities of aircraft carriers until new aircraft can be developed for such purposes.
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The Issue
The Northrop Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a retired twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to carry supplies, mail and passengers to and from aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. Its primary mission was carrier onboard delivery (COD). The aircraft provided critical logistics support to carrier strike groups. The aircraft was mainly used for high-priority cargo such as jet engines and special stores, mail, and passengers between carriers and shore bases. Prototype C-2s first flew in 1964, and production followed the next year. The initial Greyhound aircraft were overhauled in 1973.
In 1984, more C-2As were ordered under designation Reprocured C-2A or C-2A(R). In 2010, all C-2A(R) aircraft received updated propellers (from four to eight blades) and navigational updates (glass cockpit). The U.S. Navy began replacing the remaining 27 C-2As with 44 Bell Boeing CMV-22Bs Osprey tiltrotors in 2020 and fully replaced the Greyhound for the COD mission in 2026.
In June 2026, the C-2 made its last carrier arrested landing onboard the USS Nimitz; the aircraft belonged to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron VRC-40, the last operational C-2 squadron.
On 28 July 2026, the C-2 conducted its final flight from NAS Norfolk, Virginia to NAS Pensacola, Florida. Upon arrival to the naval air station, the C-2 was officially retired from service. The specific aircraft flown, registered as Bureau Number 162159, is to be displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.
During April 2014, Lockheed Martin announced that they would offer refurbished and remanufactured S-3s, dubbed the C-3, as a replacement for the Northrop Grumman C-2A Greyhound for carrier onboard delivery. The requirement for 35 aircraft would be met from the 91 S-3s currently in storage.
Naval analysts have suggested that the U.S. Navy return to service an unspecified quantity of the stored S-3s in order to fill gaps that were left in the carrier air wing when it was retired. This move was promoted as a response to the realization that the Chinese navy is producing increasingly capable weapons that can threaten carriers beyond the range their aircraft can strike them. Against the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C Lightning IIs have about half the unrefueled strike range, so bringing the S-3 back to aerial tanking duties would extend their range against it, as well as free up Super Hornets forced into tanking. Against submarines armed with anti-ship cruise missiles like the Klub and YJ-18, the S-3 would restore area coverage for ASW duties. Bringing the S-3 out of retirement could at least be a stop-gap measure to increase the survivability and capabilities of aircraft carriers until new aircraft can be developed for such purposes.
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Petition created on October 22, 2025