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This is a list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) .
On 1 April 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was merged with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) which directly operated and controlled all naval aircraft. On 1 April 1924 the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force was created as a distinct component of the RAF, which existed until 24 May 1939 when command of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred back to Royal Navy control. Coastal Command patrol aircraft, including most large seaplanes, remained with the RAF despite their operations in a naval environment. Prototypes were largely under the control of the Air Ministry and not the Fleet Air Arm until their introduction into service.
Acronyms in table
Manufacturer | Model | Variant | Role | Origin | In service | Withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AgustaWestland | Merlin | HM.1/2 | ASW/Transport | UK | 2000 | n/a | |
AgustaWestland | Wildcat | HMA.2 | Attack | UK | 2015 | n/a | 28 ordered |
Airspeed | Envoy | Transport/trainer | UK | 1941 | 1941 | 1 ex-RAF | |
Airspeed | Oxford | Trainer | UK | 1942 | 1954 | ex-RAF | |
Armstrong Whitworth | Whitley | Trainer/transport | UK | 1942 | 1947 | ||
Avro | 652 | Transport | UK | 1941 | 1942 | 2 impressed airliners | |
Avro | Anson | Trainer/Communications | UK | 1942 | 1955 | ||
Avro | Bison | Spotter | UK | 1922 | 1929 | ||
Avro | Lancaster | Heavy bomber | UK | 1945 | 1947 | 3 ex-RAF | |
Avro | Rota | I | Autogyro | UK | 1935 | 1935 | [1] |
Avro | Tutor | Trainer | UK | 1937 | 1942 | ||
Beechcraft | Expeditor/Navigator | Transport | US | 1943 | 1954 | Lend-lease | |
Beechcraft | Avenger | Trainer | US | 2011 | n/a | ||
Beechcraft | Traveller | Communications | US | 1944 | 1946 | Lend-lease | |
Bellanca | Pacemaker | Communications | US | 1939 | 1940 | 1 impressed ? | |
Blackburn | Baffin | Torpedo bomber | UK | 1934 | 1946 | ||
Blackburn | Blackburn | Spotter | UK | 1923 | 1931 | ||
Blackburn | Buccaneer | S.1/2/2C/2D | Strike | UK | 1962 | 1978 | |
Blackburn | Firebrand | Torpedo-fighter | UK | 1944 | 1956 | ||
Blackburn | Dart | Torpedo bomber | UK | 1922 | 1935 | 117 aircraft | |
Blackburn | Ripon | Torpedo bomber/reconnaissance | UK | 1929 | 1935 | ||
Blackburn | Roc | Fighter | UK | 1938 | 1943 | ||
Blackburn | Shark | Torpedo bomber/target tug | UK | 1934 | 1944 | ||
Blackburn | Skua | Fighter/dive bomber/target tug | UK | 1938 | 1941 | ||
Boulton Paul | Defiant | Target tug | UK | 1943 | 1946 | 295 aircraft | |
Boulton Paul | Sea Balliol | Trainer | UK | 1952 | 1963 | ||
Brewster | Bermuda | Dive bomber | US | 1942 | 1943 | 5 for evaluation only | |
Brewster | Buffalo | Fighter | US | 1940 | 1941 | ex-Belgian | |
Bristol | Beaufighter | Torpedo bomber | UK | 1943 | 1946 | ||
Bristol | Beaufort | Torpedo bomber/trainer | UK | 1943 | 1946 | ||
Bristol | Blenheim | Trainer | UK | 1941 | 1944 | ex-RAF | |
British Aerospace (BAe) | 125 | VIP transport | UK | ? | n/a | ? | |
British Aerospace (BAe) | Harrier II | GR. | Strike | UK | 2006 | 2011 | |
British Aerospace (BAe) | Jetstream | T.2/3 | Trainer | UK | 1979 | 2011 | 16 ex-RAF |
British Aerospace (BAe) | Sea Harrier | FRS.1 F/A.2 T.8 | Fighter/reconnaissance/ground attack/trainer | UK | 1979 | 2006 | |
Cierva | Rota | II | Autogyro | UK | 1939 | 1940 | [1] |
Curtiss | Cleveland | Dive bomber | US | 1940 | 1940 | 1 for evaluation only | |
Curtiss | Helldiver | Dive bomber | US | 1943 | 1945 | Lend-lease 26 for evaluation | |
Curtiss | Seamew | Reconnaissance | US | 1944 | 1945 | Never used operationally | |
de Havilland | DHC-1 Chipmunk | Trainer | UK | 1965 | 2005 | ex-RAF | |
de Havilland | DH.86 | Transport/trainer | UK | 1940 | 1945 | 6 impressed/ex-RAF | |
de Havilland | Dominie | Trainer/transport | UK | 1940 | 1963 | Some impressed | |
de Havilland | Flamingo | Transport | UK | 1940 | 1946 | 2 impressed | |
de Havilland | Fox Moth | Communications | UK | 1941 | 1943 | 1 impressed | |
de Havilland | Gipsy Moth | Trainer | UK | 1940 | 1943 | 1 impressed | |
de Havilland | Hornet Moth | Communications | UK | 1939 | 1945 | 1 impressed & 4 from Canada | |
de Havilland | Mosquito | various | UK | 1944 | ? | ||
de Havilland | DH.60M Moth | Trainer | UK | 1939 | 1943 | 6 impressed/ex-RAF | |
de Havilland | Leopard Moth | ? | UK | 1940 | 1946 | 2 impressed | |
de Havilland | Puss Moth | Communications | UK | 1940 | 1943 | 1 impressed | |
de Havilland | Queen Bee | Target drone | UK | 1941 | 1946 | 5 examples | |
de Havilland | Sea Heron | Transport | UK | 1961 | 1981 | Bought second hand | |
de Havilland | Hornet | Fighter/night-fighter/reconnaissance | UK | 1947 | 1954 | 198 aircraft | |
de Havilland | Sea Vampire | Fighter/trainer | UK | 1948 | 1968 | ||
de Havilland | Sea Venom | Fighter/electronic countermeasures | UK | 1954 | 1961 | ||
de Havilland | Sea Vixen | Fighter | UK | 1958 | 1972 | ||
de Havilland | Sea Devon | Transport | UK | 1955 | 1981 | ||
de Havilland | Sea Mosquito | Strike/target tug | UK | 1946 | 1950s | ||
de Havilland | Tiger Moth | Trainer/communications | UK | 1939 | 1965 | 113 ex-RAF | |
de Havilland | Vampire | Fighter/fighter-bomber | UK | 1948 | 1950s | ||
Douglas | Boston | Medium Bomber | US | 1941 | 1943 | 9 ex-RAF | |
Douglas | Boston | Medium bomber | US | 1943 | 1945 | ex-RAF | |
Douglas | Dakota | Transport | US | 1944 | 1946 | 3 aircraft | |
Douglas | Dauntless | Dive bomber | US | 1944 | 1946 | 9 evaluated but not used | |
Douglas | Skyraider | Airborne Early Warning | US | 1951 | 1960 | ||
English Electric | Canberra | Trainer/target tug/drone | UK | 1950s | 1992 | ||
Eurocopter | AS365N-2 Dauphin II | Trainer helicopter | France | 1999 | n/a | ||
Fairey | IIID & F | Spotter/target tug | UK | 1918 | 1940 | ||
Fairey | Albacore | Torpedo/dive bomber | UK | 1940 | 1943 | ||
Fairey | Barracuda | Torpedo/dive bomber | UK | 1943 | 1953 | 2,607 built | |
Fairey | Battle | Trainer | UK | 1939 | 1944 | 3 ex-RAF | |
Fairey | Firefly | Fighter/night fighter/ASW/trainer | UK | 1943 | 1956 | 1702 aircraft | |
Fairey | Flycatcher | Fighter | UK | 1923 | 1934 | ||
Fairey | Fulmar | Fighter/night fighter | UK | 1940 | 1945 | 600 aircraft | |
Fairey | Gannet | ASW/transport/EW/trainer | UK | 1954 | 1979 | 342 including 44 AEW | |
Fairey | Gannet | AEW.3 | AEW | UK | 1954 | 1979 | 44 AEW |
Fairey | Seafox | Spotting/reconnaissance | UK | 1937 | 1943 | ||
Fairey | Seal | Spotter/reconnaissance | UK | 1933 | 1943 | ||
Fairey | Swordfish | I | Torpedo bomber | UK | 1936 | 1946 | |
Grumman | Avenger/Tarpon | Torpedo bomber/ASW/EW | US | 1943 | 1962 | Lend-lease and MDAP | |
Grumman | Widgeon | Transport | US | 1943 | 1946 | ||
Grumman | Wildcat/Martlet | Fighter | US | 1940 | 1944 | 992 of various marks Lend-lease | |
Gloster | Gladiator | Fighter | UK | 1938 | 1945 | ||
Gloster | Meteor | Trainer/target tug | UK | 1940s | 1960s? | ||
Gloster | Nightjar | Fighter | UK | 1920 | 1924 | ||
Gloster | Sea Gladiator | Fighter/communications | UK | 1939 | 1945 | ||
Grob | Tutor | G115E | Trainer | Germany | 2000s | n/a | |
Grumman | Goose | Transport | US | 1942 | 1946 | Lend-lease | |
Grumman | Hellcat/Gannet | Fighter/night fighter | US | 1943 | 1946 | 1,182 aircraft | |
Grumman | Tigercat | Fighter | US | 1944 | 1945 | 2 for evaluation only | |
Handley Page | Harrow | Transport | UK | 1942 | 1943 | 9 ex-RAF | |
Hawker | Audax | Trainer | UK | 1941 | 1945 | 4 ex-RAF | |
Hawker | Hart/Hart Trainer | Trainer | UK | 1939 | 1942 | 8 ex-RAF | |
Hawker | Henley | Target tug | UK | 1939 | 1944 | 7 ex-RAF | |
Hawker | Hunter | Trainer/drone | UK | ? | 1994 | ||
Hawker | Hurricane | Fighter | UK | 1941 | 1945 | ||
Hawker | Nimrod | Fighter/utility | UK | 1932 | 1942 | ||
Hawker | Osprey | Fighter/reconnaissance | UK | 1931 | 1940 | ||
Hawker | Sea Fury | Fighter | UK | 1947 | 1962 | ||
Hawker | Sea Hawk | Fighter/fighter-bomber/ground attack | UK | 1953 | 1969 | ||
Hawker | Sea Hurricane | Fighter | UK | 1941 | 1944 | ||
Hawker | Typhoon | Fighter/ground attack | UK | 1943 | 1943 | 1 for evaluation only | |
Hawker Siddeley | Hawk | T.1/1A | Trainer | UK | 1994 | 2022 | |
Hiller | HT | HT.1 HT.2 | Trainer/communications | US | 1953 1962 | 1976 | MDAP [2] |
Hunting | Sea Prince | Trainer/transport | UK | 1953 | 1978 | ||
Lockheed | Hudson | Transport | US | 1944 | 1945 | 4 ex-RAF | |
Lockheed | Ventura | Medium bomber | US | 1942 | 1942 | 1 for evaluation only | |
Lockheed Martin | F-35 Lightning | F-35B | Fighter | US | 2023 | n/a | 809 Naval Air Squadron |
Martin | Baltimore | Medium bomber | US | 1944 | 1946 | 14 ex-RAF | |
Martin | Maryland | Medium bomber/target tug | US | 1940 | 1944 | 7 ex-RAF | |
McDonnell Douglas | Phantom | FGR.1 | Fighter/ground attack | US | 1968 | 1978 | |
Miles | Magister | Trainer | UK | 1937 | 1945 | ||
Miles | Martinet | Target tug | UK | 1943 | 1947 | ||
Miles | Falcon Six | Communications | UK | 1940 | 1941 | 1 impressed | |
Miles | Master | Trainer | UK | 1940 | 1948 | ||
Miles | Monitor | Target tug | UK | 1945 | 1955 | ex-RAF | |
Miles | Queen Martinet | Target drone | UK | 1945 | 1946 | 3 examples | |
Miles | Whitney Straight | Communications | UK | 1940 | 1943 | 1 impressed | |
North American | Harvard | Trainer | US | 1943 | 1955 | ||
North American | Mitchell | Medium bomber | US | 1943 | 1943 | 1 for evaluation only | |
Parnall | Panther | Spotter | UK | 1919 | 1926 | ||
Parnall | Peto | Submarine-borne reconnaissance | UK | 1926 | 1932 | ||
Parnall | Plover | Fighter | UK | 1923 | 1924 | Operational evaluation | |
Percival | Petrel | Transport | UK | 1939 | 1944 | 4 impressed/ex-RAF | |
Percival | Proctor | Trainer | UK | 1939 | 1955 | ||
Percival | Vega Gull | Communications | UK | 1939 | 1945 | 7 impressed | |
Pitcairn | PA-39 | Autogyro | USA | 1941 | 1943 | [1] | |
Short | Seamew | ASW | UK | 1956 | 1957 | Evaluation only | |
Short | Sturgeon | Target tug | UK | 1951 | 1959 | ||
Sikorsky | Hoverfly | I | Training/rescue/utility helicopter | US | 1943 | 1952 | 24 aircraft [3] |
Sikorsky | Hoverfly | II | training/deck landing evaluation/liaison helicopter | US | 1948 | 1952 | [4] |
Sikorsky | Whirlwind | HAR.21 HAS.22 | ASW/transport/air-sea rescue | US | 1952 1953 | 1970 | MDAP [5] |
Sopwith | Cuckoo | Torpedo bomber | UK | 1918 | 1923 | 232 aircraft | |
Stinson | Reliant | Trainer/communications | US | 1944 | 1946 | Lend-lease | |
Supermarine | Attacker | Fighter/fighter-bomber | UK | 1951 | 1957 | ||
Supermarine | Seafang | Fighter | UK | 1946 | Evaluation only | ||
Supermarine | Seafire | F.17 | Fighter/reconnaissance | UK | 1942 | 1954 | |
Supermarine | Scimitar | Fighter/tanker | UK | 1957 | 1970 | ||
Supermarine | Sea Otter | Air-sea rescue/reconnaissance/spotting | UK | 1944 | 1950 | ||
Supermarine | Spitfire | Fighter | UK | 1942 | 1945 | ||
Supermarine | Walrus | Spotter/air-sea rescue/ | UK | 1936 | 1946 | ||
Vickers | Wellington | Trainer/transport | UK | 1942 | 1946 | Ex-RAF | |
Vought | Kingfisher | Reconnaissance | US | 1942 | 1943 | Lend-lease | |
Vought | Chesapeake | Torpedo bomber/trainer | US | 1941 | 1944 | ||
Vought | Corsair | Fighter | US | 1943 | 1947 | Lend-lease | |
Vultee | Vengeance | Dive bomber/target tug | US | 1944 | 1947 | Lend-lease | |
Westland Aircraft | Dragonfly | HR.1 HR.3 HR.5 | Air-sea rescue helicopter | UK | 1950 1953 ? | 1970 | 72 aircraft [6] |
Westland Aircraft | Lysander | Target tug | UK | 1940 | 1944 | 67 ex-RAF | |
Westland Aircraft | Walrus | Spotter/reconnaissance | UK | 1921 | 1925 | ||
Westland Aircraft | Wessex | HAS.1 HAS.3 HU.5 | ASW/air-sea rescue/transport | UK | 1960 ? 1965 | 1987 | [7] |
Westland Aircraft | Whirlwind | HAR.1 HAR.3 HAS.7 HAR.9 | ASW/air-sea rescue/transport | UK | 1954 1955 1960 1964 | 1973 | [8] |
Westland Aircraft | Wyvern | TF.1 | Torpedo/strike | UK | 1953 | 1958 | 127 including 10 two-seat trainers |
Westland Helicopters/ Aérospatiale | Gazelle | AH.1 HT.2 | Trainer/utility helicopter | UK | 1974 | 2010 | 40 aircraft |
Westland Helicopters | Lynx | HAS.3/8 AH.7 | ASW/air-sea rescue/transport helicopter | UK | 1976 | 2017 | |
Westland Helicopters | Sea King | HAR.5 HAS.5/6 AEW.2A HC.4 | ASW/AEW/air-sea rescue/transport | UK | 1969 | 2018 | |
Westland Helicopters | Wasp | HAS.1 | ASW | UK | 1963 | 1980 |
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a predominantly "rotary" force, with helicopters undertaking roles once performed by biplanes such as the Fairey Swordfish. It operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike and the AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin for commando and anti-submarine warfare.
HMS Hermes was a conventional British aircraft carrier and the last of the Centaur class.
This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War, often referred to as "the Task Force" in the context of the war. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.
The Westland Whirlwind helicopter was a British licence-built version of the U.S. Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw. It primarily served with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in anti-submarine and search and rescue roles.
The Westland Wessex is a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34. It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft. One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, while later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines.
The Westland Wasp is a small 1960s British turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and is based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter. It fulfilled the requirement of the Royal Navy for a helicopter small enough to land on the deck of a frigate and carry a useful load of two homing torpedoes.
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant known as the Commando was developed by Westland to serve as a troop transport.
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants. The Lynx went into operational usage in 1977 and was later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations, primarily serving in the battlefield utility, anti-armour, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles.
Atlantic Conveyor was a British merchant navy ship, registered in Liverpool, that was requisitioned during the Falklands War.
These are some of the key weapons of the Falklands War used by both sides.
700 Naval Air Squadron is an experimental test squadron in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is devoted to the history of British naval aviation. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships, and paintings and drawings related to naval aviation. It is located on RNAS Yeovilton airfield, and the museum has viewing areas where visitors can watch military aircraft take off and land. At the entrance to the museum are anchors from HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle, fleet carriers which served the Royal Navy until the 1970s. It is located 7 miles (11 km) north of Yeovil, and 40 miles (64 km) south of Bristol.
847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters and provides armed reconnaissance and light transport support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Along with 845 and 846 naval air squadrons, it forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron was re-formed from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron on 1 September 1995.
This is a list of the units, aircraft and casualties of the British air services in the Falklands War. The numbers in bold are the number of aircraft used in the war, the numbers in brackets are the number of lost aircraft. For a list of air forces from Argentina, see Argentine air forces in the Falklands War.
815 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron flying the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter and is the Navy's front line Wildcat Naval Air Squadron. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. The squadron is capable of carrying out multiple roles such as: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy, Above Surface Warfare (ASW), search and rescue, disaster relief and flying and engineering training. In the early 2000s, the Navy said that the squadron was largest helicopter squadron in Europe.
829 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Before it was decommissioned in March 2018, it operated the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter.
826 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadron formed during World War II which has been reformed several times since then until last disbanded in 1993.
737 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.
706 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Established as a fighter and torpedo-bomber training unit in Australia at the end of World War Two, it was briefly reformed as a helicopter squadron in the early 1950s, before becoming a helicopter training unit in 1962, and operating until 1998.