Active United Kingdom military aircraft directory
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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft | |||||||
Eurofighter Typhoon | Pan-European (British, "German," Italian, Spanish) | Jet | Multi-role | 2003 | 107 | 130 | 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn. And scrapped under the RTP requirement which started in late 2016. All Tranche 1s (apart from 4, perhaps those based in the Falklands) to be, "retired by," 2025. |
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | United States (UK as Level 1 partner) | Jet | Stealth Multi-role | 2013 | 33 | 34 | Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 138 aircraft to be procured One F-35B crashed November 2021. |
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. |
Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol | |||||||
Beechcraft Shadow R.1 | United States | Propeller | ISTAR | 2009 | 6 | 8 | Expected OSD 2030. A further two aircraft are to be added by 2025 along with an upgrade to the current aircraft. |
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint | United States | Jet | SIGINT | 2013 | 3 | 3 | Formally known as Airseeker. |
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1 | United States | Jet | ASW/Anti-ship | 2019 | 9 | 9 | |
Tanker / Transport | |||||||
Airbus Voyager | Airbus (European, Multinational) | Jet | Tanker / Transport | 2011 | 9 | 14 | Five additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services. |
Transport | |||||||
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | United States | Jet | Transport | 2001 | 8 | 8 | |
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 | Airbus (European, Multinational) | Propeller | Transport | 2014 | 22 | 22 | Up to six additional aircraft planned for procurement by 2030. |
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1 | France | Jet | Transport | 2022 | 2 | 2 | Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026. |
Helicopter | |||||||
Leonardo AW109SP | United Kingdom / Italy | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2016 | 1 | 1 | Used for transportation of senior military commanders. Or government ministers. |
Boeing Chinook | United States | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1980 | 60 | 75 | Operational numbers being reduced to 51 helicopters. |
Westland/Airbus Helicopters Puma HC.2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1971 2013 |
23 | 23 | Type may continue in service to 2028. |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2024 | - | 6 | Six aircraft ordered; to replace Puma HC2s deployed in Cyprus and "Brunei from 2024." |
Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 29 | 29 | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below. But operated by RAF. |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 7 | 7 | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 | United Kingdom | Jet | Jet trainer | 2009 | 28 | 28 | 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. |
Beechcraft Texan T1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 14 | 39 | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | 5 | 5 | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
Grob Prefect T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 23 | 23 | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
Grob Tutor T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 1999 | 91 | 119 | Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018. |
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. |
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs | |||||||
General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper | United States | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2007 | 9 | 10 | Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV. |
Protector RG1 | United States | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2023 | 1 | 16 | 16 ordered; first aircraft delivered in September 2023. |
RAF Red Arrows※
Main article: Red Arrows
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Aerospace Hawk T.1 | United Kingdom | Jet | Trainer | 1980 | 12 | 12 | Retired from aggressor role in March 2022; retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030. |
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 | 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 | 5 | 5 | 1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 2 PR.XIX |
Army Air Corps※
Main article: Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attack helicopters | |||||||
Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian | United States | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2020 | 38 | 50 | 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. |
Transport helicopters | |||||||
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II | France | Rotorcraft | SAS | 2009 | 5 | 6 | |
UAV | |||||||
Thales Watchkeeper WK450 | United Kingdom | UAV | ISR | 2014 | 49 | 50 |
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 (UK as Level 1 partner) | Jet | Stealth Multi-role | 2013 | - | - | Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020; 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023 with initial squadron operating capability projected for December 2024. |
Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters | |||||||
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2014 | 28 | 28 | |
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | ASW/AEW | 2000 | 30 | 44 | Expected OSD 2040. |
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. |
Transport helicopters | |||||||
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2000 | 25 | 25 | Expected OSD 2040. |
Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
Grob Tutor | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 1999 | 5 | 5 | Introductory fight training; operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron |
Ministry of Defence※
As well as the military services, a number of defence contractors operate military aircraft on behalf of/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 | Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA. |
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil | France | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 3 | 3 | Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS. | |
Eurofighter Typhoon | United Kingdom | Jet | Multi-role | 3 | 3 | BAE Systems, Warton. | |
Hawker Hunter | UK | Jet | Fighter | 3 | 3 | 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. |
Westland Sea King | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2 | 2 | HeliOperations under CFAOS. | |
Airbus Zephyr | United Kingdom | High-altitude pseudo-satellite | UAV | 3 | 3 | Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform. |
UK Military Flying Training System※
Main article: UK Military Flying Training System
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. |
Beechcraft Texan T.1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 14 | 14 | Serves with 72 Squadron RAF. |
Beechcraft Avenger | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2011 | 4 | 4 | Serves with 750 Naval Air Squadron. |
Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | 5 | 5 | Serves with 45 Squadron RAF. |
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 | United Kingdom | Jet | Jet trainer | 2009 | 28 | 28 | Serves with No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron. |
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. |
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | Germany | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 7 | 7 | Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF. |
See also※
- British Armed Forces
- List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
- Future of the Royal Air Force
- New Medium Helicopter
Notes※
- ^ 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※
- ^ "Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108". 1 February 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ ※ 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.
- ^ Allison, George (21 May 2024). "Plans for Britain's F-35 fleet". UK Defence Journal.
- ^ "UK extends Merlin operations until 2040".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "727 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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※
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2014 (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2013 (dasa.mod.uk)