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List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MaxWBooth (talk | contribs) at 22:11, 9 June 2020 (Replacing “spain” with “Europe” to better reflect the fact that Airbus is a joint European company.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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 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
Airbus A400M Atlas C1 Europe Propeller Transport 2014 20 20 [1] Two on order expected to be delivered in the early 2020s[2]
Airbus Voyager Europe Jet Tanker / Transport 2011 9 9 [1] Five additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services for a total of 14
Beechcraft Shadow R1 United States Propeller ISTAR 2009 6 6 Expected OSD 2030.[3] A further two aircraft are to be added in 2023 along with an upgrade to the current aircraft[4]
Bell Griffin HAR2 Canada Rotorcraft Utility 2003 3 3[5] [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 Airseeker R1 USA Jet SIGINT 2013 3 3 [1]
Boeing Chinook USA Rotorcraft Transport 1980 60 60 [1]
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III USA Jet Transport 2001 8 8 [1]
Boeing Sentry AEW1 USA Jet AEW&C 1991 4 6 [1] Two were withdrawn in March 2019 in preparation for the future transition to the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail [6]
Boeing P-8 Poseidon USA Jet ASW 2019 2 2 [7] A further seven are on order
Britten-Norman Defender UK Propeller Patrol 2003 9 9 [1] Will be jointly operated by Army and RAF during transition period [8]
Britten-Norman Islander UK Propeller Patrol 1997 3 6 [1] Will be jointed operated by Army and RAF during transition period [8]
British Aerospace 146 UK Jet Transport 1986
2012		 4 6 [1] Expected OSD 31 March 2022.[9] They have also been put up for sale[10]
British Aerospace Hawk T1 UK Jet Trainer 1976 56[a] 76[b] [1] Used in the aggressor role by 100 squadron and the Red Arrows
British Aerospace Hawk T2 UK Jet Trainer 2009 28 28 [1] Used as the advanced fast jet lead-in trainer
Eurofighter Typhoon Europe Jet Multi-role 2007 142[11] 157[12][c] [1] Of the 22 two seat trainer aircraft[13] 16 Tranche 1s are currently being progressively scrapped under the RTP (reduce to produce) requirement[14] which started in late 2016[15][11]
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper USA UAV ISR / Attack 2007 10 10 [1] Expected OSD 2024[16]
Grob Tutor T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 1999 91 119 [1] To be replaced as part of the new Ascent UK Military Flight Training System detailed below[17]
Grob Viking TX1 Germany Glider Trainer 1990 52 60 [1]
Leonardo AW109SP Italy Rotorcraft Transport 2016 1 1 [1] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules USA Propeller Transport 2000 14 14 [1] All but one shorter C5 variant being withdrawn as part of SDSR 2015 to leave one C5 and 13 C4 variant after one C4 was lost after a mission against ISIS[18]
Lockheed Martin F‑35B Lightning II USA Jet Multi-role 2013 18 18[19] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Total of 138 aircraft to be procured[20][21]
Raytheon Sentinel R1 Canada / USA Jet ISTAR 2008 4[22] 5 [1] Expected OSD 2021[23]
Westland Puma HC2 UK Rotorcraft Transport 1971 23 24 [1]

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) UK Propeller Bomber 1942 1 1 B.I
De Havilland Canada Chipmunk UK Propeller Trainer 1946 2 753 2 T.10
Douglas Dakota USA Propeller Transport 1942 1 1 C.3
Hawker Hurricane UK Propeller Fighter 1937 2 14533 2 Mk IIc
Supermarine Spitfire UK Propeller Fighter 1938 6 20341 1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 1 LF.XVIe, 2 PR.XIX

Fleet Air Arm

Main article: Fleet Air Arm
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 UK Rotorcraft Attack 2014 28 28 [1]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 UK Rotorcraft ASW 2000 30 30 [1] Maritime helicopter
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk3i/4 UK Rotorcraft Transport 2000 25 25 [1] Troop carrying aircraft used to support the Royal Marines
The Mk4/4A are undergoing a capability upgrade and will be fully delivered by 2021[24][25] All Mk3 have now been upgraded to Mk4 with just the Mk3i remaining[26]
British Aerospace Hawk T1 UK Jet Trainer 1994 14 14[27] [1] Used in the aggressor role by 736 Naval Air Squadron
Beechcraft Avenger USA Propeller Trainer 2011 4 4 [1] Used for RN potential aircrew Flying Grading
Grob Tutor T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 2002 5 5 [1] To be replaced as part of the new Ascent UK Military Flight Training System detailed below
Lockheed Martin F‑35B Lightning II USA Jet Multi-role 2013 - - Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020[19]

Army Air Corps

Main article: Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
AgustaWestland Apache AH1 UK Rotorcraft Attack 2004 50 67 [1] To be replaced by the AH-64E Apache Guardian in 2024[28]
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat UK Rotorcraft Utility 2014 34 34 [1]
Bell 212 Canada Rotorcraft Utility 1995 5 5 [1] Used by No. 7 Flight AAC and No. 25 Flight AAC in Brunei and Kenya in support of TTB and BATUK
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II France Rotorcraft SAS 2009 5 5
Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UK UAV ISR 2014 49 50 [1]
Westland Gazelle UK Rotorcraft Patrol 1974 32 36 [1] Expected OSD 2025. The two additional units are currently undergoing work to bring them back into service[29]

UK Military Flying Training System

The contractors providing the new UK Military Flying Training System will eventually operate 38 fixed wing aircraft and 32 helicopters on the military register, but the aircraft are initially civilian-registered.[citation needed]

Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Grob Prefect T1 Germany Propeller Trainer 2018 23 23 [1]
Beechcraft Texan T1 USA Propeller Trainer 2018 10 10 [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 3 3 [1] A further 4 aircraft to be procured[30]

Empire Test Pilots' School

Main article: Empire Test Pilots' School
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
British Aerospace Hawk UK Jet Trainer / experimental 2 2 [31] Operated for the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine

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[d] [32]
Eurocopter Squirrel France Rotorcraft Trainer 3 3 Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS[e]
Eurofighter Typhoon UK Jet Multi-role 3 3 BAE Systems, Warton[f]
Hawker Hunter UK Jet Fighter 3 3[33] Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton
Lockheed Martin F‑35B Lightning II USA Jet Multi-role 2013 3 3 Lockheed Martin, United States[20]
Westland Sea King UK Rotorcraft Trainer 2 2 HeliOperations under CFAOS[g]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Not including the 14 operated by 736 NAS
  2. ^ Not including the 14 operated by 736 NAS
  3. ^ Not including the 3 instrumented production aircraft operated by BAE Systems, Warton noted below
  4. ^ Military Registered Civil Owned Aircraft
  5. ^ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
  6. ^ IPA 1, IPA 5, IPA 6
  7. ^ 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 2019". Gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ "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. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  3. ^ "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. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ^ [1] Uk-orders-leonardo-thales-protection-system-for-raf-shadow-fleet
  5. ^ "ABOUT THE GRIFFIN HAR2". RAF. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Wedgetail to be RAF's new early warning radar aircraft". Royal Air Force. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Poseidon makes first UK landing". 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "UK transfers Defender and Islander special mission aircraft from AAC to RAF". IHS Janes. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Confirmation that Royal BAe 146 aircraft to be replaced". UK Defence Journal. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  10. ^ "DSEI 2019: RAF puts BAe 146s up for sale". Janes.com. 13 September 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Written evidence submitted by the Ministry of Defence". House of Commons Defence Committee. 12 February 2019.
  12. ^ "RAF receives final Eurofighter Typhoon". Janes.com. 30 September 2019.
  13. ^ "UK Typhoon Fleet by Block « Articles « Fast Air Photography". www.fast-air.co.uk.
  14. ^ "RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Scrapped: Eurofighter Typhoon ZJ815 Sent for RTP - Urban Ghosts". 12 December 2016.
  16. ^ Osborne, Tony (29 July 2019). "RAF Retiring Reaper In 2024, Paving Way For Protector". Aviation Week.
  17. ^ 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018 "Five More ex-UK Grob Tutors Delivered to Finnish Air Force". Royal Air Force. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  18. ^ Jennings, Gareth (9 August 2018). "RAF revises Hercules plans to reflect Iraq loss". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  19. ^ a b "UK declares F-35 Initial Operating Capability from land - UK Defence Journal". www.ukdefencejournal.org.uk.
  20. ^ a b Delivering Carrier Strike. National Audit Office. 10 March 2017. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-78604-110-4. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Written question HL867: Lord Campbell of Pittenweem 17-07-2017". UK Parliament.
  22. ^ "RAF Sentinel R1 hunting IS again - Jane's 360". www.janes.com.
  23. ^ Chuter, Andrew (8 August 2017). "Raytheon To Continue Support of UK Sentinel Fleet in $165M Deal". Defense News.
  24. ^ "Farnborough 2018: More Merlin magic for the UK (video) - DH - Defence Helicopter - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  25. ^ "UK Merlin Mk4/4a programme hit by delays - DH - Defence Helicopter - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  26. ^ "UK completes Merlin HC3/3A helo upgrades". IHS Janes. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  27. ^ "736 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON". www.royalnavy.mod.uk.
  28. ^ DESider. February 2019 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/780384/February-desider-v2.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ^ "Farnborough 2018: UK helicopters in Transition". DH – Defence Helicopter. Shephard Media.
  30. ^ "£183m boost for UK military helicopter training". ADS Advance. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  31. ^ Empire Test Pilots' School - Our Fleet and Facilities Archived 19 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, etps.qinetiq.com
  32. ^ "MAA Approved Organistations" (PDF).
  33. ^ "Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd - Aircraft". Retrieved 30 September 2019.

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