List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
This is a list of military aircraft currently[when?] in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.
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 | USA | Propeller | ISTAR | 2009 | 8 | 8 | [1] 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 | [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 | 72 | [1] |
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | USA | Jet | Transport | 2001 | 8 | 8 | [1] |
Boeing Poseidon MRA1 | USA | Jet | ASW | 2019 | 5 | 5 | [5] A further four are on order |
British Aerospace 146 | UK | Jet | Transport | 1986 2012 |
4 | 6 | [1] Expected OSD 31 March 2022.[6] They have also been put up for sale[7] |
British Aerospace Hawk T1 | UK | Jet | Trainer | 1976 | 56[a] | 76[b] | [1] To be retired from aggressor role by March 2022 those flown by the Red Arrows retired by 2030.[8] Used in the aggressor role by No. 100 Squadron and the Red Arrows |
British Aerospace Hawk T2 | UK | 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[9] |
Eurofighter Typhoon | Europe | Jet | Multi-role | 2007 | 136[c] | 157[d] | [1] Of the 22 two seat trainer aircraft[10] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[11] which started in late 2016[12][13] All Tranche 1s to be retired by 2025.[14] |
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper | USA | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2007 | 9 | 10 | [1] Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV[15][16] |
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 [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 | 25 | [1] All to be withdrawn by 2023.[18] |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | USA/UK [19] | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | 18[f] | 18[g] | [20] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 60-80 aircraft to be procured[21][22][23] |
Westland Puma HC2 | UK | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1971 | 23 | 24 | [1] |
RAF 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[]
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 | 44 | [1] Maritime helicopter; out of service date is 2040[24][25] |
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk3i/4 | UK | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2000 | 25 | 28 | [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[26][27] All Mk3 have now been upgraded to Mk4 with just the Mk3i remaining; out of service date is 2040.[28][29][25] |
British Aerospace Hawk T1 | UK | Jet | Trainer | 1994 | 14 | 14[30] | [1] Used in the aggressor role by 736 Naval Air Squadron |
Beechcraft Avenger | USA | Propeller | Trainer | 2011 | 4 | 4 | [1] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by 750 Naval Air Squadron |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | USA/UK | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | - | - | Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020[20] |
Army Air Corps[]
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AgustaWestland Apache AH1 | UK | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2004 | 30 | 67 | [1] To be replaced by the AH-64E Apache Guardian in 2024[31] |
Boeing AH-64E Guardian | United States | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2020 | 0 | 6 | [32] A total of 50 aircraft are on order to replace the Apache AH1. |
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 | 26 | 34 | [1] Expected OSD 2025. Two additional units are currently[when?] undergoing work to bring them back into service[33] |
UK Military Flying Training System[]
The contractors providing the new UK Military Flying Training System will eventually operate 42 fixed wing aircraft and 36 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 | 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 | 3 | 3 | [1] A further 4 aircraft to be procured[34] |
RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine[]
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Aerospace Hawk | UK | Jet | Trainer / experimental | 2 | 2 | [35] Operated for the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine[36] |
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[h] [37] |
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil | France | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 3 | 3 | Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS[i] | |
Eurofighter Typhoon | UK | Jet | Multi-role | 3 | 3 | BAE Systems, Warton[j] | |
Hawker Hunter | UK | Jet | Fighter | 3 | 3[38] | Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton | |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II | USA | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | 3 | 3 | Lockheed Martin, United States[22] |
Westland Sea King | UK | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2 | 2 | HeliOperations under CFAOS[k] |
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ Not including the 14 operated by 736 NAS
- ^ Not including the 14 operated by 736 NAS
- ^ Not including the 3 IPA aircraft listed below
- ^ Not including the 3 IPA aircraft listed below
- ^ 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)
- ^ Not including the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
- ^ Not including the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
- ^ 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[]
- ^ Jump up to: 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 "UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2020". Gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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
- ^ "Fifth RAF Poseidon arrives in UK".
- ^ "Confirmation that Royal BAe 146 aircraft to be replaced". UK Defence Journal. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "DSEI 2019: RAF puts BAe 146s up for sale". Janes.com. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
- ^ "Typhoon, C-130J and Puma retirements, FCAS investment headline UK defence review".
- ^ https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mod-confirm-hawk-t2-2040-out-of-service-date/
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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".
- ^ "What is in the Defence Command Paper for air and space capabilities?".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "The UK's Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper".
- ^ "How British is the F-35?". 14 October 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "UK progresses F-35B deliveries". Janes. 1 December 2020.
- ^ "UK looking at '60 and then maybe up to 80′ F-35B jets". 23 March 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
- ^ "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
- ^ "UK completes Merlin HC3/3A helo upgrades". IHS Janes. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ "736 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). DESider. February 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Apache AH-64E heralds new era in modern British military aviation". British Army. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Farnborough 2018: UK helicopters in Transition". DH – Defence Helicopter. Shephard Media. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "£183m boost for UK military helicopter training". ADS Advance. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ Empire Test Pilots' School - Our Fleet and Facilities Archived 19 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, etps.qinetiq.com
- ^ "Hawk T1". RAF.mod. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "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.
External links[]
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2014 (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2013 (dasa.mod.uk)
Categories:
- British military aircraft
- Lists of military aircraft
- United Kingdom military-related lists