This is a list of military aircraft currently in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.
Royal Air Force edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft | |||||||
Eurofighter Typhoon | United Kingdom | Jet | Multi-role | 2003 | 107[1] | 130[a][1] | [2] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[3] which started in late 2016[4][5] All Tranche 1s (apart from those based in the Falklands)[6] to be retired by 2025.[7] |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | United States [8] | Jet | Stealth Multi-role | 2013 | 33[b][9] | 34[c] | [10][11][12][13] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 138 aircraft to be procured[14][15][16][17] |
AEW&C | |||||||
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1 | United States | Jet | AW&C | 2022 | - | 3 | Originally five on order, now reduced to three, service entry anticipated late 2025.[18][2] |
Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol | |||||||
Beechcraft Shadow R.1 | United States | Propeller | ISTAR | 2009 | 6 | 8[19] | [2] Expected OSD 2030.[20] A further two aircraft are to be added by 2025 along with an upgrade to the current aircraft[21] |
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint | United States | Jet | SIGINT | 2013 | 3 | 3 | [2] Formally known as Airseeker[22] |
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1 | United States | Jet | ASW/Anti-ship[23] | 2019 | 9 | 9 | |
Tanker / Transport | |||||||
Airbus Voyager | Spain | Jet | Tanker / Transport | 2011 | 9 | 14 | [2] Five additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services[24] |
Transport | |||||||
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | United States | Jet | Transport | 2001 | 8 | 8 | [2] |
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 | Spain | Propeller | Transport | 2014 | 22 | 22[d][25][26] | [2] Up to six additional aircraft planned for procurement by 2030[27][28][29] |
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1 | France | Jet | Transport | 2022 | 2[30] | 2 | Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026[31] |
Helicopter | |||||||
Leonardo AW109SP | United Kingdom / Italy | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2016 | 1 | 1 | [2] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers. [32] |
Boeing Chinook | United States | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1980 | 60 | 75 | Operational numbers being reduced to 51 helicopters[33] |
Westland/Airbus Helicopters Puma HC.2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1971 2013 |
23[34] | 23 | Type may continue in service to 2028[35][2][36] |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2024 | - | 6 | Six aircraft ordered; to replace Puma HC2s deployed in Cyprus and Brunei from 2024.[37][38] |
Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 29 | 29 | [2] |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 7 | 7 | [2] |
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 | United Kingdom | Jet | Jet trainer | 2009 | 28 | 28 | [2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron; aircraft to remain in service until 2040[39][40] |
Beechcraft Texan T1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 14 | 39 | [2] |
Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | 5 | 5 | [2] |
Grob Prefect T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 23 | 23 | [2] |
Grob Tutor T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 1999 | 91 [e] | 119 | [2] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018 [41] |
Grob Viking T.1 | Germany | Glider | Trainer | 1990 | 52 | 91 | The Grob Viking T1 is the RAF's primary aircraft for delivering basic glider and flight training to the RAF Air Cadets[2] |
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs | |||||||
General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper | United States | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2007 | 9 | 10 | [2] Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV[42][43] |
Protector RG1 | United States | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2023 | 1 | 16 | 16 ordered; first aircraft delivered in September 2023[44] |
RAF Red Arrows edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Aerospace Hawk T.1 | United Kingdom | Jet | Trainer | 1980 | 12 | 12 | [2] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[45] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[46] |
RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avro Lancaster (PA474) | United Kingdom | Propeller | Heavy bomber | 1942 | 1 | 1 | 1 B.I |
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk | United Kingdom | Propeller | Trainer | 1946 | 2 | 2 | 2 T.10 |
Douglas Dakota | United States | Propeller | Transport | 1942 | 1 | 1 | 1 C.3 |
Hawker Hurricane | United Kingdom | Propeller | Fighter | 1937 | 2 | 2 | 2 Mk IIc |
Supermarine Spitfire | United Kingdom | Propeller | Fighter | 1938 | 6 | 6 | 1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 1 LF.XVIe, 2 PR.XIX |
Army Air Corps edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack helicopters | |||||||
Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian | United States | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2020 | 38[47] | 50 | [48] 50 Apache AH1 will be remanufactured to AH-64E specification. Armed with M230 cannon and JAGM, Hellfire K1 and Hellfire Romeo missiles. |
Reconnaissance helicopters | |||||||
AgustaWestland Wildcat | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Utility | 2014 | 25 | 34 | Up to 8 helicopters serve with the Fleet Air Arm's 847 Squadron in support of the Royal Marines[49] [2] |
Transport helicopters | |||||||
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II | France | Rotorcraft | SAS | 2009 | 5[50] | 6 | |
UAV | |||||||
Thales Watchkeeper WK450 | United Kingdom | UAV | ISR | 2014 | 49 | 50 | [2] |
Fleet Air Arm edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | |||||||
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | United States | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | - | - | Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020;[51] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023 with squadron operational capability projected for 2025[52] |
Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters | |||||||
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2014 | 28 | 28 | [2] |
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | ASW/AEW | 2000 | 30 | 44 | [2] Expected OSD 2040[53][54] |
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat AH1 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Utility/Reconnaissance | 2014 | - | - | Up to 8 Army Air Corps aircraft tasked to 847 Naval Air Squadron in support of the Royal Marines[55] |
Transport helicopters | |||||||
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2000 | 25 | 25 | [2] Expected OSD 2040[53][54] |
Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
Beechcraft Avenger | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2011 | 4 | 4 | [2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by 750 Naval Air Squadron |
Ministry of Defence edit
As well as the military services, a number of defence contractors operate military aircraft on behalf of or lease them from the Ministry of Defence.
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agusta AW109 | Italy | Rotorcraft | Utility | 1 | 1 | QinetiQ, Boscombe Down | |
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II | France | Rotorcraft | Utility | 1999 | 2 | 2 | [2] Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA[f] [56] |
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil | France | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 3 | 3 | Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS[g] | |
Eurofighter Typhoon | United Kingdom | Jet | Multi-role | 3 | 3 | BAE Systems, Warton[h] | |
Hawker Hunter | UK | Jet | Fighter | 3 | 3[57] | Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton | |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II | United States | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | - | - | Three-four of 33 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role[58][59] |
Westland Sea King | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2 | 2 | HeliOperations under CFAOS[i] | |
Airbus Zephyr | United Kingdom | High-altitude pseudo-satellite | UAV | 3 | 3 | Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform[60][61] |
UK Military Flying Training System edit
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grob Prefect T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 23 | 23 | Serves with 57 Squadron RAF, 703 Naval Air Squadron and 674 Squadron, Army Air Corps[2][62][63][64] |
Beechcraft Texan T.1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 14 | 14 | Serves with 72 Squadron RAF[65][2] |
Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | 5 | 5 | Serves with 45 Squadron RAF[66][2] |
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 29 | 29 | Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF, 705 Naval Air Squadron and 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps[2][67][68] |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 7 | 7 | Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF[2][69] |
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Total inventory, including aircraft in maintenance at any given time
- ^ Includes the 3/4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
- ^ Includes 3/4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; also includes one lost in November 2021
- ^ Final aircraft in initial batch delivered May 2023
- ^ As detailed in source this also includes the 5 Tutor platforms which were operated by the Royal Navy, previously categorised as Tutor (RN Flying Grading)
- ^ Military Registered Civil Owned Aircraft
- ^ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
- ^ IPA 1, IPA 5, IPA 6
- ^ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
References edit
- ^ a b "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2022". Gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 11 October 2022.
- ^ "RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ "Scrapped: Eurofighter Typhoon ZJ815 Sent for RTP - Urban Ghosts". 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ "UK armed forces equipment and formations 2020". GOV.UK.
- ^ "What UK military forces are based at the Falkland Islands?". Air Force Technology. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "What is in the Defence Command Paper for air and space capabilities?". 22 March 2021.
- ^ "How British is the F-35?". 14 October 2019.
- ^ Allison, George (21 May 2024). "Plans for Britain's F-35 fleet". UK Defence Journal.
- ^ Allison, George (21 May 2024). "Plans for Britain's F-35 fleet". UK Defence Journal.
- ^ Manuel, Rojoef (26 June 2023). "Lockheed Delivers Two New F-35B Fighter Jets to Royal Air Force". The Defencepost.
- ^ "Britain takes delivery of more F-35 jets". 21 November 2022.
- ^ "F-35 Lightning II". Twitter. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
The UK's F-35 fleet has grown to 24 aircraft after @OC207Sqn pilots ferried three new jets from the @LockheedMartin plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
- ^ "UK looking at 'up to 138′ F-35B jets". 23 March 2021.
- ^ Delivering Carrier Strike. National Audit Office. 10 March 2017. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-78604-110-4. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ "Written question HL867: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem 17-07-2017". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017. One F-35B crashed November 2021.
- ^ "More F-35B jets being delivered to the UK". 15 February 2022.
- ^ Allison, George (16 March 2024). "E-7 Wedgetail to enter service next year". U.K. Defence Journal.
- ^ Manuel, Rojoef (14 March 2023). "RAF to Receive Flight Simulator for Upgraded Shadow Mk2 Training". The Defense Post.
- ^ "DE&S signs £250 million aircraft deal to sustain the RAF's intelligence-gathering Shadow aircraft fleet" (PDF). desider. No. 127. Ministry of Defence, DE&S. February 2019. OCLC 928842222. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ [1] Archived 13 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine UK-orders-Leonardo-Thales-protection-system-for-RAF-Shadow-fleet
- ^ "RC-135W Rivet Joint". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "New Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft lands in UK for first time". Royal Air Force. 4 February 2020.
- ^ "A330 Voyager". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Dunlop, Tom (22 May 2023). "New Atlas transport aircraft delivered to UK". UK Defence Journal.
- ^ "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
- ^ "UK Atlas breaks parachute delivery record during DE&S cargo drop trials" (PDF). desider. No. 125. Ministry of Defence, DE&S. December 2018. OCLC 928842222. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ "RAF Brize Norton". 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Royal Air Force's newest aircraft fleet reaches full-service capability". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Cartlidge, James (13 February 2024). "Military Aircraft". Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Sloane Helicopters: Contracts". Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Chuter, Andrew (14 March 2024). "Britain finalizes deal to buy 14 Chinook helicopters". Defense News.
- ^ Perry, Dominic (8 September 2023). "UK Puma support now likely to run until 2028 as delays to NMH force extension". Flight Global. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "RAF Akrotiri Helicopter Capability Transfers From Griffin To Puma". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Puma HC2". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "UK to acquire H145 helicopters for Cyprus, Brunei missions".
- ^ "UK MoD to buy six H145s in fresh blow to NMH plans".
- ^ Allison, George (6 September 2021). "MoD confirm Hawk T2 2040 out of service date".
- ^ "Hawk T2". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Five More ex-UK Grob Tutors Delivered to Finnish Air Force". Royal Air Force. 22 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ Osborne, Tony (29 July 2019). "RAF Retiring Reaper In 2024, Paving Way For Protector". Aviation Week.
- ^ "UK signs £65m contract for first three Protectors". Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (12 October 2023). "RAF reconstitutes 31 Squadron as new Protector unit". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ "First-Generation Hawk Trainer Bows Out of UK Military Service".
- ^ "Typhoon, C-130J and Puma retirements, FCAS investment headline UK defence review".
- ^ "IMH 2024: British Army to declare IOC for AH-64E force". Janes.com. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "New version of Apache attack helicopter enters service". UK Defence Journal. 23 January 2022.
- ^ Harding, Ian; Wills, Kevin (22 August 2019). "Military Wildcat AH1". Key.Aero.
- ^ "UK Army Air Corps lose Dauphin in accident". 3 August 2023.
- ^ "UK progresses F-35B deliveries". Janes. 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Building up the Lightning Force – when will the UK get its F-35 jets? | Navy Lookout". 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
- ^ a b "When will the Royal Navy's Merlin helicopters be retired?". 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ Harding, Ian; Wills, Kevin (22 August 2019). "Military Wildcat AH1". Key.Aero.
- ^ "MAA Approved Organistations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd - Aircraft". Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ^ Stevenson, Beth. "RAF's 17 Sqn assumes control of F-35 test and evaluation". Flight Global.
- ^ Allison, George (21 May 2024). "Plans for Britain's F-35 fleet". UK Defence Journal.
- ^ Chuter, Andrew (17 February 2016). "British MoD Acquires Solar-Powered Zephyr UAV". Defense News.
- ^ "Airbus, UK MoD cites Zephyr trials success on path to 'operationalising pseudo satellite'". Janes.com.
- ^ "Prefect T1". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "703 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Flying Start". Army Air Corps. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Texan T1". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Phenom T1". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Juno HT1". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "705 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Jupiter HT1". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
External links edit
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2014 (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2013 (dasa.mod.uk)