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

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter TyphoonUnited KingdomJetMulti-role2007137[1]137[lower-alpha 1][1][2] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[3] which started in late 2016[4][5]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 to be retired by 2025.[6]
Lockheed Martin F-35B LightningUnited States [7]Jet Stealth Multi-role201331[lower-alpha 2]32[lower-alpha 3][8][9][10] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 60-80 aircraft to be
procured[11][12][13][14]
AEW&C
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1United StatesJetAW&C202203Originally five on order, now reduced to three, to begin operating in 2024.[15][2]
Reconnaissance
Beechcraft Shadow R.1United StatesPropellerISTAR200966[2] Expected OSD 2030.[16] A further two aircraft are to be added in 2023 along
with an upgrade to the current aircraft[17]
Boeing RC-135W Rivet JointUnited StatesJetSIGINT201333[2] Formally known as Airseeker[18]
Boeing Poseidon MRA.1United StatesJetASW/Anti-ship[19]201999
Tanker / Transport
Airbus VoyagerSpainJetTanker / Transport20111212[2] Two additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIUnited StatesJetTransport200188[2]
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1SpainPropellerTransport20142222[lower-alpha 4][20][21][2] Up to six additional aircraft to be procured by 2030[22][23][24]
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1FranceJetTransport20222[25]2Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2024[26]
Helicopter
Leonardo AW109SPUnited Kingdom / ItalyRotorcraftTransport201611[2] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers. [27]
Boeing ChinookUnited StatesRotorcraftTransport19804159
Westland/Airbus Helicopters Puma HC.2United KingdomRotorcraftTransport1971
2013		1417Deployed in Cyprus and Brunei as of 2023[28][2][29]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2GermanyRotorcraftTransport202406Six aircraft ordered; to replace Puma HC2 in Cyprus and Brunei from 2024.[30][31]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929[2]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877[2]
British Aerospace Hawk T.1United KingdomJetJet trainer1976-172[lower-alpha 5][2] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[32] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[33]
BAE Systems Hawk T.2United KingdomJetJet trainer20092828[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[34][35]
Beechcraft Texan T1United StatesPropellerTrainer20181414[2]
Embraer Phenom T.1BrazilJetTrainer201855[2]
Grob Prefect T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323[2]
Grob Tutor T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer199991 [lower-alpha 6]119[2] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the
Finnish Air Force as of 2018 [36]
Grob Viking T.1GermanyGliderTrainer19905260The 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 ReaperUnited StatesUAVISR / Attack2007910[2] Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV[37][38]
Protector RG1United StatesUAVISR / Attack202311616 ordered; first aircraft delivered in September 2023[39]

RAF Red Arrows

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
British Aerospace Hawk T.1United KingdomJetTrainer1980712[2] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[40] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[33]

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Avro Lancaster (PA474)United KingdomPropellerHeavy bomber1942111 B.I
de Havilland Canada ChipmunkUnited KingdomPropellerTrainer1946222 T.10
Douglas DakotaUnited StatesPropellerTransport1942111 C.3
Hawker HurricaneUnited KingdomPropellerFighter1937222 Mk IIc
Supermarine SpitfireUnited KingdomPropellerFighter1938661 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 1 LF.XVIe, 2 PR.XIX

Army Air Corps

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Attack helicopters
AgustaWestland Apache AH1United KingdomRotorcraftAttack20041416[2] 50 to be upgraded to AH-64E Apache Guardian specification by 2024[41]
Boeing AH-64E Apache GuardianUnited StatesRotorcraftAttack20202731 (+19)[42] 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 AW159 WildcatUnited KingdomRotorcraftUtility20142534[2]
Transport helicopters
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin IIFranceRotorcraftSAS20095[43]5
UAV
Thales Watchkeeper WK450United KingdomUAVISR20144950[2]

Fleet Air Arm

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Combat Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35B LightningUnited StatesJetMulti-role2013--Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020;[44] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023 with squadron operational capability projected for 2025[45]
Attack helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2United KingdomRotorcraftAttack20142828[2]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2United KingdomRotorcraftASW/AEW20003044[2] Expected OSD 2040[46][47]
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4AUnited KingdomRotorcraftTransport20002528[2] Expected OSD 2040[46][47]
Trainer Aircraft
Beechcraft AvengerUnited StatesPropellerTrainer201144[2] 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 lease them from the Ministry of Defence.

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Agusta AW109ItalyRotorcraftUtility11QinetiQ, Boscombe Down
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin IIFranceRotorcraftUtility199922[2] Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA[lower-alpha 7] [48]
Eurocopter AS350 ÉcureuilFranceRotorcraftTrainer33Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS[lower-alpha 8]
Eurofighter TyphoonUnited KingdomJetMulti-role33BAE Systems, Warton[lower-alpha 9]
Hawker HunterUKJetFighter33[49]Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIUnited StatesJetMulti-role2013--Three of 31 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role[50]
Westland Sea KingUnited KingdomRotorcraftTrainer22HeliOperations under CFAOS[lower-alpha 10]
Airbus ZephyrUnited KingdomHigh-altitude pseudo-satelliteUAV33Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform[51][52]

UK Military Flying Training System

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Grob Prefect T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323[2]
Beechcraft Texan T.1United StatesPropellerTrainer20181414[2]
Embraer Phenom T.1BrazilJetTrainer201855[2]
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929[2]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Total inventory, including aircraft in maintenance at any given time
  2. ↑ Includes the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
  3. ↑ Includes the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; also includes one lost in November 2021
  4. ↑ Final aicraft in initial batch delivered May 2023
  5. ↑ Total inventory ordered, now only flown by Red Arrows as noted below
  6. ↑ 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)
  7. ↑ Military Registered Civil Owned Aircraft
  8. ↑ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
  9. ↑ IPA 1, IPA 5, IPA 6
  10. ↑ leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)

References

  1. 1 2 "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 "UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations 2022". Gov.uk. Ministry of Defence. 11 October 2022.
  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. ↑ Manuel, Rojoef (26 June 2023). "Lockheed Delivers Two New F-35B Fighter Jets to Royal Air Force". The Defencepost.
  9. ↑ "Britain takes delivery of more F-35 jets". 21 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "UK looking at '60 and then maybe up to 80′ F-35B jets". 23 March 2021.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "More F-35B jets being delivered to the UK". 15 February 2022.
  15. ↑ Bozyk, Piotr (10 October 2022). "RAF Lossiemouth Base preparing for arrival of UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet".
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ Archived 13 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine UK-orders-Leonardo-Thales-protection-system-for-RAF-Shadow-fleet
  18. ↑ "RC-135W Rivet Joint". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "New Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft lands in UK for first time". Royal Air Force. 4 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Dunlop, Tom (22 May 2023). "New Atlas transport aircraft delivered to UK". UK Defence Journal.
  21. ↑ "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "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.
  24. ↑ "RAF Brize Norton". 11 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "Royal Air Force's newest aircraft fleet reaches full-service capability". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Allison, George (8 February 2022). "Britain purchasing French jets for VIP transport".
  27. ↑ "Sloane Helicopters: Contracts". Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "RAF Akrotiri Helicopter Capability Transfers From Griffin To Puma". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  29. ↑ "Puma HC2". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  30. ↑ https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/uk-to-acquire-h145-helicopters-for-cyprus-brunei-missions
  31. ↑ https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/uk-mod-to-buy-six-h145s-in-fresh-blow-to-nmh-plans/155777.article
  32. ↑ "First-Generation Hawk Trainer Bows Out of UK Military Service".
  33. 1 2 "Typhoon, C-130J and Puma retirements, FCAS investment headline UK defence review".
  34. ↑ Allison, George (6 September 2021). "MoD confirm Hawk T2 2040 out of service date".
  35. ↑ "Hawk T2". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  36. ↑ "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.
  37. ↑ Osborne, Tony (29 July 2019). "RAF Retiring Reaper In 2024, Paving Way For Protector". Aviation Week.
  38. ↑ "UK signs £65m contract for first three Protectors". Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  39. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (12 October 2023). "RAF reconstitutes 31 Squadron as new Protector unit". Janes.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  40. ↑ "First-Generation Hawk Trainer Bows Out of UK Military Service".
  41. ↑ "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)
  42. ↑ "New version of Apache attack helicopter enters service". UK Defence Journal. 23 January 2022.
  43. ↑ "UK Army Air Corps lose Dauphin in accident".
  44. ↑ "UK progresses F-35B deliveries". Janes. 1 December 2020.
  45. ↑ "Building up the Lightning Force – when will the UK get its F-35 jets? | Navy Lookout". 14 September 2022.
  46. 1 2 "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
  47. 1 2 "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.
  48. ↑ "MAA Approved Organistations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  49. ↑ "Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd - Aircraft". Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  50. ↑ Stevenson, Beth. "RAF's 17 Sqn assumes control of F-35 test and evaluation". Flight Global.
  51. ↑ Chuter, Andrew (17 February 2016). "British MoD Acquires Solar-Powered Zephyr UAV". Defense News.
  52. ↑ "Airbus, UK MoD cites Zephyr trials success on path to 'operationalising pseudo satellite'". Janes.com.
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