U.S. Navy Completes Final C-2A Greyhound Carrier Landings and Launches

The U.S. Navy completed the final arrested landing and catapult launch of a C-2A Greyhound aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on June 25, 2026. Aircraft from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 performed the operations while the ship transited north from Mayport, Florida, toward New York City.

Vice Admiral Doug Perry, commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk and U.S. 2nd Fleet, flew aboard one of the Greyhounds during its final catapult launch at approximately 1800 local time. The C-2A Greyhounds also participated alongside an MQ-25 Stingray T-1 demonstrator and Super Hornets in a multinational exercise linked to the U.S.

250th anniversary. The Navy has transferred the carrier onboard delivery role to the CMV-22B Osprey. C-2A Greyhounds will continue non-carrier flying operations until later in 2026, when full retirement is planned barring major contingencies.

The C-2A Greyhound first entered service in the late 1960s. Original airframes received a life-extension overhaul in 1973, and 39 new Reprocured C-2A aircraft were delivered under a 1984 contract, with the last arriving in 1990. All earlier airframes retired by 1987.

Each C-2A is powered by two Allison T56-A-425 turboprop engines producing 4,600 shaft horsepower and has a range of about 1,000 nautical miles. The CMV-22B Osprey was declared initial operational capability in 2021. The Navy originally projected 48 CMV-22B aircraft but now plans to obtain up to 53, according to an update released June 30, 2026.

Flight restrictions on the CMV-22B that limited range after a 2023 CV-22B crash were lifted beginning in January 2026.