List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

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For RAF aircraft no longer in service, see List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force. For aircraft expected to enter service with the RAF in the future, see Future of the Royal Air Force.

Tri-service badge of the United Kingdom's armed forces.

This is a list of military aircraft currently[when?] in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.

Royal Air Force

Main article: Royal Air Force
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon United Kingdom Jet Multi-role 2007 101[a] 137[b] [1] Of the 22 two seat trainer aircraft[2] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[3] which started in late 2016[4][5]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 to be retired by 2025.[6]
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning United States [7] Jet Multi-role 2013 26[c] 27[d] [8][9] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 60-80 aircraft to be
procured[10][11][12][13]
AEW&C
Boeing 737 E-7 Wedgetail United States Jet AW&C 2022 0 3 Originally five on order, now reduced to three, to begin operating in 2023.[1]
Reconnaissance
Beechcraft Shadow R1 United States Propeller ISTAR 2009 6 6 [1] Expected OSD 2030.[14] A further two aircraft are to be added in 2023 along
with an upgrade to the current aircraft[15]
Boeing Airseeker R1 United States Jet SIGINT 2013 3 3 [1]
Boeing Poseidon MRA1 United States Jet ASW 2019 9 9
Tanker
Airbus Voyager Spain Jet Tanker / Transport 2011 12 12 [1] Two additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III United States Jet Transport 2001 8 8 [1]
Airbus A400M Atlas C1 Spain Propeller Transport 2014 21 21 [1] One on order expected to be delivered in the early 2020s[16][17]
Dassault Envoy IV CC1 France Jet Transport 2022 2[18] 2 Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2024[19]
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules United States Propeller Transport 2000 13 13 [1] All to be withdrawn by 2023.[20]
Helicopter
Leonardo AW109SP United Kingdom / Italy Rotorcraft Transport 2016 1 1 [1] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers
Bell Griffin HAR2 Canada Rotorcraft Utility 2003 3 3 [1] Supplied and maintained by Cobham but operated by military aircrew. Used for
SAR, fire fighting and ISTAR duties amongst others in RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
Boeing Chinook United States Rotorcraft Transport 1980 41 59
Westland Puma HC2 United Kingdom Rotorcraft Transport 1971 14 17 [1]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 29 29 [1]
Airbus H145 Jupiter Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 7 7 [1]
British Aerospace Hawk T1 United Kingdom Jet Trainer 1976 56 172 [1] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[21] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[22]
British Aerospace Hawk T2 United Kingdom Jet Trainer 2009 28 28 [1] 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[23]
Beechcraft Texan T1 United States Propeller Trainer 2018 14 14 [1]
Embraer Phenom 100 Brazil Jet Trainer 2018 5 5 [1]
Grob Prefect T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 2018 23 23 [1]
Grob Tutor T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 1999 91[e] 119 [1] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the
Finnish Air Force as of 2018 [24]
Grob Viking TX1 Germany Glider Trainer 1990 52 60 [1]
UAV
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper United States UAV ISR / Attack 2007 9 10 [1] Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV[25][26]

RAF Red Arrows

Main article: Red Arrows
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
British Aerospace Hawk T1 United Kingdom Jet Trainer 1980 7 9 [1] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[27] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[22]

RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine

Main article: RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
British Aerospace Hawk United Kingdom Jet Trainer / experimental 2 2 [28] Operated for the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine[29]

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Main article: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Avro Lancaster (PA474) United Kingdom Propeller 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

Main article: Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Attack helicopters
AgustaWestland Apache AH1 United Kingdom Rotorcraft Attack 2004 18 20 [1] To be replaced by 50 AH-64E Apache Guardians in 2024[30]
Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian United States Rotorcraft Attack 2020 4 16 [31] Total of 50 aircraft are on order to replace the Apache AH1
Patrol helicopters
Airbus H135M Germany Rotorcraft Patrol 2022 30 on order Project Matcha, Gazelle replacement [32]
Westland Gazelle United Kingdom Rotorcraft Patrol 1974 14 17 [1] Expected OSD 2025.
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat United Kingdom Rotorcraft Utility 2014 25 34 [1]
Bell 212 Canada Rotorcraft Utility 1995 3 3 [1] Used by No. 25 Flight AAC in Kenya in
support of BATUK
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II France Rotorcraft SAS 2009 6 6
UAV
Thales Watchkeeper WK450 United Kingdom UAV ISR 2014 49 50 [1]

Fleet Air Arm

Main article: Fleet Air Arm
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Combat Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning United States Jet Multi-role 2013 26 27 Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020[33]
Attack helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 United Kingdom Rotorcraft Attack 2014 28 28 [1]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 United Kingdom Rotorcraft ASW/AEW 2000 30 44 [1] Expected OSD 2040[34][35]
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk3i/4 United Kingdom Rotorcraft Transport 2000 25 28 [1] The Mk4/4A are undergoing a capability upgrade and will be fully delivered by 2021[36][37] All Mk3 have now been upgraded to Mk4 with just the Mk3i remaining. Expected OSD 2040[34][38][35]
Trainer Aircraft
Beechcraft Avenger United States Propeller Trainer 2011 4 4 [1] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by 750 Naval Air Squadron

Ministry of Defence

As well as the military services, a number of defence contractors operate military aircraft on behalf of or leased 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 [1] Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA[f] [39]
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[40] Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II United States Jet Multi-role 2013 3 3 Operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role[41]
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[42][43]

UK Military Flying Training System

Main article: UK Military Flying Training System
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Grob Prefect T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 2018 23 23 [1]
Beechcraft Texan T1 United States Propeller Trainer 2018 14 14 [1]
Embraer Phenom 100 Brazil Jet Trainer 2018 5 5 [1]
Airbus H135 Juno Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 29 29 [1]
Airbus H145 Jupiter Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 7 7 [1]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Not including the 3 IPA aircraft listed below
  2. ^ Not including the 3 IPA aircraft listed below
  3. ^ Not including the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
  4. ^ Not including the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; however, includes one lost in November 2021
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ Military Registered Civil Owned Aircraft
  7. ^ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
  8. ^ IPA 1, IPA 5, IPA 6
  9. ^ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)

References

  1. ^ 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 af ag ah ai aj ak "UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2022". Gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 11 October 2022.
  2. ^ "UK Typhoon Fleet by Block « Articles « Fast Air Photography". www.fast-air.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. ^ "RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Scrapped: Eurofighter Typhoon ZJ815 Sent for RTP - Urban Ghosts". 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  5. ^ "UK armed forces equipment and formations 2020". GOV.UK.
  6. ^ "What is in the Defence Command Paper for air and space capabilities?". 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ "How British is the F-35?". 14 October 2019.
  8. ^ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-takes-delivery-of-more-f-35-jets/
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "UK looking at '60 and then maybe up to 80′ F-35B jets". 23 March 2021.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "More F-35B jets being delivered to the UK". 15 February 2022.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ [1] Archived 13 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine UK-orders-Leonardo-Thales-protection-system-for-RAF-Shadow-fleet
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "RAF Brize Norton". 11 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Royal Air Force's newest aircraft fleet reaches full-service capability". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  19. ^ Allison, George (8 February 2022). "Britain purchasing French jets for VIP transport".
  20. ^ "The UK's Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper". Janes.com.
  21. ^ "First-Generation Hawk Trainer Bows Out of UK Military Service".
  22. ^ a b "Typhoon, C-130J and Puma retirements, FCAS investment headline UK defence review".
  23. ^ Allison, George (6 September 2021). "MoD confirm Hawk T2 2040 out of service date".
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ Osborne, Tony (29 July 2019). "RAF Retiring Reaper In 2024, Paving Way For Protector". Aviation Week.
  26. ^ "UK signs £65m contract for first three Protectors". Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  27. ^ "First-Generation Hawk Trainer Bows Out of UK Military Service".
  28. ^ Empire Test Pilots' School - Our Fleet and Facilities Archived 19 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, etps.qinetiq.com
  29. ^ "Hawk T1". RAF.mod. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). DESider. February 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ UK Defence Journal. 23 January 2022 version of Apache attack helicopter enters service https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-version-of-apache-attack-helicopter-enters-service/title=New version of Apache attack helicopter enters service. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ Perry, Dominic. "UK selects H135s to replace British Army's elderly Gazelle helicopters". Flight Global.
  33. ^ "UK progresses F-35B deliveries". Janes. 1 December 2020.
  34. ^ a b "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ "Farnborough 2018: More Merlin magic for the UK (video) - DH - Defence Helicopter - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  37. ^ "UK Merlin Mk4/4a programme hit by delays - DH - Defence Helicopter - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  38. ^ "UK completes Merlin HC3/3A helo upgrades". IHS Janes. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  39. ^ "MAA Approved Organistations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  40. ^ "Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd - Aircraft". Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  41. ^ Stevenson, Beth. "RAF's 17 Sqn assumes control of F-35 test and evaluation". Flight Global.
  42. ^ Chuter, Andrew (17 February 2016). "British MoD Acquires Solar-Powered Zephyr UAV". Defense News.
  43. ^ "Airbus, UK MoD cites Zephyr trials success on path to 'operationalising pseudo satellite'". Janes.com.

External links

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