List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

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
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon	European (British, German, Italian, Spanish)	Jet	Multi-role	2003	102 [1]	137 [a] [2]	[3] 26 of 30 Tranche 1s (apart from 4, based in the Falklands) [4] retired by 2025; [5] Falklands-based Tranche 1s to retire, and be replaced, by 2027 [6]
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning	United States [7]	Jet	Stealth Multi-role, including nuclear strike	By 2030	0 [b] [8]	(12) [c]	12 F-35A to be procured by 2030; [9] [10] To support NATO nuclear mission and complement Royal Navy submarine-based nuclear forces. [11]
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning	United States [12]	Jet	V/STOL Stealth Multi-role	2013	39 [d] [13] [14] [15] [16]	40 (63) [e]	[17] [16] [18] [19] [20] Jointly operated with the Fleet Air Arm: 47 F-35B being acquired by 2026; 15 additional F-35B planned by 2033 [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
AEW&C
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1	United States	Jet	AW&C	2026 [26]	0	(3)	Originally five envisaged, now reduced to three. 2025 defence review recommended acquisition of additional aircraft. [27] [3]
Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol
Beechcraft Shadow R.1	United States	Propeller	ISTAR	2009	8 [28]	8 [29]	[3] Expected OSD 2030. [30] Current fleet expanded and upgraded. [31]
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint	United States	Jet	SIGINT	2013	3	3	[3] Formally known as Airseeker. [32]
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1	United States	Jet	ASW/Anti-ship [33]	2019	9	9
Tanker / Transport
Airbus Voyager	Airbus (European, Multinational)	Jet	Tanker / Transport	2011	14 [34]	14	[3] [35]
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III	United States	Jet	Transport	2001	8	8	[3]
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1	Airbus (European, Multinational)	Propeller	Transport	2014	22	22 [f] [36] [37]	[3] Up to six additional aircraft planned for procurement by 2030, [38] [39] [40] or procurement of additional capacity in partnership with private sector providers. [41]
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1	France	Jet	Transport	2022	2 [42]	2	Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026. [43]
Helicopter
Boeing Chinook	United States	Rotorcraft	Transport	1980	37	51	14 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 [44] [45]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2	Germany	Rotorcraft	Transport	2026	0	(6)	Six aircraft ordered; to replace former Puma HC2s deployed in Cyprus and Brunei from 2026. [46] [47] [48]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1	Germany	Rotorcraft	Trainer	2018	29	29	[3] 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	[3] 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	[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. [49] [50]
Beechcraft Texan T1	United States	Propeller	Trainer	2018	14	14	[3] 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	[3] 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	[3] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Grob Tutor T.1	Germany	Propeller	Trainer	1999	91 [g]	119	[3] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018. [51]
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. [3]
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs
General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper	United States	UAV	ISR / Attack	2007	10	10	[3] Extended in service but being replaced by Protector UAV. [52] [53] [54] [55]
Protector RG1	United States	UAV	ISR / Attack	2023	10 [56]	16	16 ordered; 10 aircraft delivered with 4 in the UK and the other 6 in the US where they are used for testing and training. [57]

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	[3] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022; [58] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030. [59]

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	6	1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF Mk XVIe 2 PR Mk 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	Helicopter	Attack	2022	50 [60] [61]	50	50 Apache AH1 remanufactured to AH-64E specification. Armed with M230 cannon and JAGM, Hellfire K1 and Hellfire Romeo missiles. [62]
Reconnaissance helicopters
AgustaWestland Wildcat	United Kingdom	Rotorcraft	Utility	2014	34	34	Up to 8 helicopters serve with the Fleet Air Arm's 847 Squadron in support of the Royal Marines. [63] [64]
Transport helicopters
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II	France	Rotorcraft	SAS	2009	5 [65]	6

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	Jet	V/STOL Stealth Multi-role	2013	-	-	Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020; [66] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023. [67]
Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2	United Kingdom	Rotorcraft	Attack	2014	28	28	[3]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2	United Kingdom	Rotorcraft	ASW/AEW	2000	30	44	[3] Expected OSD 2040. [68] [69]
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. [63]
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A	United Kingdom	Rotorcraft	Transport	2000	24	25	One aircraft crashed September 2024; [70] [3] Expected OSD 2040. [68] [69]
Trainer Aircraft
Grob Tutor	Germany	Propeller	Trainer	1999	5	5	Introductory fight training; operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron [71]
Tactical vertical takeoff/landing UAV
Peregrine	Austria	Rotorcraft UAV	ISR	2024	2+	2+	Began trials on HMS Lancaster in the Persian Gulf mid-2024 [72] [73] [74] [75]

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.

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	[3] Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA [h] . [76]
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil	France	Rotorcraft	Trainer		3	3	Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS [i] .
Eurofighter Typhoon	United Kingdom	Jet	Multi-role		3	3	BAE Systems, Warton [j] .
Hawker Hunter	UK	Jet	Fighter		3	3 [77]	Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Leeming.
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II	United States	Jet	Multi-role	2013	-	-	4 of 39 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role. [78] [79] [16]
Westland Sea King	United Kingdom	Rotorcraft	Trainer		2	2	HeliOperations under CFAOS [k] .
Airbus Zephyr	United Kingdom	High-altitude pseudo-satellite	UAV		0	3	Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform; [80] [81] two of three aircraft in storage; MoD has not been a participant in any flights since 2021 [82]

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. [3] [83] [84] [85]
Beechcraft Texan T.1	United States	Propeller	Trainer	2018	14	14	Serves with 72 Squadron RAF. [86] [3]
Beechcraft Avenger	United States	Propeller	Trainer	2011	4	4	Serves with 750 Naval Air Squadron. [3]
Embraer Phenom T.1	Brazil	Jet	Trainer	2018	5	5	Serves with 45 Squadron RAF. [87] [3]
BAE Systems Hawk T.2	United Kingdom	Jet	Jet trainer	2009	28	28	Serves with No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron. [3]
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. [3] [88] [89]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1	Germany	Rotorcraft	Trainer	2018	7	7	Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF. [3] [90]

See also

• British Armed Forces
• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• Future of the Royal Air Force
• New Medium Helicopter

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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External links

• United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2014 (gov.uk)
• United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2013 (dasa.mod.uk)