List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

Last updated

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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.

Contents

Royal Air Force

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon European (British, German, Italian, Spanish)Jet Multi-role 2003102 [1] 137 [a] [2] [3] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement [4] which started in late 2016. [5] [6] All Tranche 1s (apart from 4, based in the Falklands) [7] retired by 2025. [8]
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning United States [9] Jet Stealth Multi-role, including nuclear strikeBy 20300 [b] [10] (12) [c] 12 F-35A to be procured by 2030; [11] [12] To support NATO nuclear mission and complement Royal Navy submarine-based nuclear forces. [13]
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning United States [14] Jet V/STOL Stealth Multi-role201339 [d] [15] [16] [17] [18] 40 (63) [e] [19] [18] [20] [21] [22] Jointly operated with the Fleet Air Arm: 47 F-35B being acquired by 2026; 15 additional F-35B planned by 2033 [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
AEW&C
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1 United StatesJetAW&C2026 [28] 0(3)Originally five envisaged, now reduced to three. 2025 defence review recommended acquisition of additional aircraft. [29] [3]
Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol
Beechcraft Shadow R.1 United StatesPropeller ISTAR 20098 [30] 8 [31] [3] Expected OSD 2030. [32] Current fleet expanded and upgraded. [33]
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint United StatesJet SIGINT 201333 [3] Formally known as Airseeker. [34]
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1 United StatesJet ASW/Anti-ship [35] 201999
Tanker / Transport
Airbus Voyager Airbus (European, Multinational)JetTanker / Transport201114 [36] 14 [3] [37]
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III United StatesJetTransport200188 [3]
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 Airbus (European, Multinational)PropellerTransport20142222 [f] [38] [39] [3] Up to six additional aircraft planned for procurement by 2030, [40] [41] [42] or procurement of additional capacity in partnership with private sector providers. [43]
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1 FranceJetTransport20222 [44] 2Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026. [45]
Helicopter
Boeing Chinook United StatesRotorcraft Transport 1980375114 HC.Mk 6A variants withdrawn from service; to be replaced by 14 CH-47-ER variants from 2027; overall operational numbers to stabilize at c. 51 helicopters [46] [47]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2 GermanyRotorcraftTransport20260(6)Six aircraft ordered; to replace former Puma HC2s deployed in Cyprus and Brunei from 2026. [48] [49] [50]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929 [3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877 [3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 United KingdomJetJet trainer20092828 [3] 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. [51] [52]
Beechcraft Texan T1 United StatesPropellerTrainer20181414 [3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Embraer Phenom T.1 BrazilJetTrainer201855 [3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Grob Prefect T.1 GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323 [3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Grob Tutor T.1 Germany PropellerTrainer199991 [g] 119 [3] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018. [53]
Grob Viking T.1 GermanyGliderTrainer19905291The Grob Viking T1 is the RAF's primary aircraft for delivering basic glider and flight training to the RAF Air Cadets. [3]
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs
General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper United StatesUAV ISR / Attack 20071010 [3] Extended in service but being replaced by Protector UAV. [54] [55] [56] [57]
Protector RG1 United StatesUAV ISR / Attack 202310 [58] 1616 ordered; 10 aircraft delivered with 4 in the UK and the other 6 in the US where they are used for testing and training. [59]

RAF Red Arrows

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
British Aerospace Hawk T.1 United KingdomJetTrainer19801212 [3] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022; [60] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030. [61]

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Avro Lancaster (PA474)United KingdomPropeller Heavy bomber 1942111 B.I
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk United KingdomPropellerTrainer1946222 T.10
Douglas Dakota United StatesPropellerTransport1942111 C.3
Hawker Hurricane United KingdomPropeller Fighter 1937222 Mk IIc
Supermarine Spitfire United KingdomPropellerFighter1938561 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF Mk XVIe 2 PR Mk XIX

Army Air Corps

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Attack helicopters
Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian United StatesHelicopterAttack202250 [62] [63] 5050 Apache AH1 remanufactured to AH-64E specification. Armed with M230 cannon and JAGM, Hellfire K1 and Hellfire Romeo missiles. [64]
Reconnaissance helicopters
AgustaWestland Wildcat United KingdomRotorcraft Utility 20143434Up to 8 helicopters serve with the Fleet Air Arm's 847 Squadron in support of the Royal Marines. [65] [66]
Transport helicopters
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II FranceRotorcraft SAS 20095 [67] 6

Fleet Air Arm

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Combat Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning United StatesJetV/STOL Stealth Multi-role2013--Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020; [68] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023. [69]
Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 United KingdomRotorcraftAttack20142828 [3]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 United KingdomRotorcraft ASW/AEW 20003044 [3] Expected OSD 2040. [70] [71]
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat AH1 United KingdomRotorcraftUtility/Reconnaissance2014--Up to 8 Army Air Corps aircraft tasked to 847 Naval Air Squadron in support of the Royal Marines. [65]
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A United KingdomRotorcraftTransport20002425One aircraft crashed September 2024; [72] [3] Expected OSD 2040. [70] [71]
Trainer Aircraft
Grob Tutor GermanyPropellerTrainer199955Introductory fight training; operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron [73]
Tactical vertical takeoff/landing UAV
Peregrine AustriaRotorcraft UAV ISR 20242+2+Began trials on HMS Lancaster in the Persian Gulf mid-2024 [74] [75] [76] [77]

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 AW109 ItalyRotorcraftUtility11QinetiQ, Boscombe Down.
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II FranceRotorcraftUtility199922 [3] Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA [h] . [78]
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil FranceRotorcraftTrainer33Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS [i] .
Eurofighter Typhoon United KingdomJetMulti-role33 BAE Systems, Warton [j] .
Hawker Hunter UKJetFighter33 [79] Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Leeming.
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II United StatesJetMulti-role2013--4 of 39 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role. [80] [81] [18]
Westland Sea King United KingdomRotorcraftTrainer22 HeliOperations under CFAOS [k] .
Airbus Zephyr United KingdomHigh-altitude pseudo-satelliteUAV03Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform; [82] [83] two of three aircraft in storage; MoD has not been a participant in any flights since 2021 [84]

UK Military Flying Training System

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Grob Prefect T.1 GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323Serves with 57 Squadron RAF, 703 Naval Air Squadron and 674 Squadron, Army Air Corps. [3] [85] [86] [87]
Beechcraft Texan T.1 United StatesPropellerTrainer20181414Serves with 72 Squadron RAF. [88] [3]
Beechcraft Avenger United StatesPropellerTrainer201144Serves with 750 Naval Air Squadron. [3]
Embraer Phenom T.1 BrazilJetTrainer201855Serves with 45 Squadron RAF. [89] [3]
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 United KingdomJetJet trainer20092828Serves with No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron. [3]
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF, 705 Naval Air Squadron and 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps. [3] [90] [91]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF. [3] [92]

See also

Notes

  1. Total inventory, including aircraft in maintenance at any given time
  2. To be procured to provide tactical nuclear strike capability but with "day-to-day" training role
  3. To be based at RAF Marham
  4. Includes the 4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
  5. Includes 4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; total of 63 will have been delivered by 2033; figures include one lost in November 2021
  6. Final aircraft in initial batch delivered May 2023
  7. 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)
  8. Military Registered Civil Owned Aircraft
  9. leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)
  10. IPA 1, IPA 5, IPA 6
  11. leased from the Ministry of Defence and operated on the military register under the Contractor Flying Approved Organisation Scheme {CFAOS)

References

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