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List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

This is a list of military aircraft currently in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.

Tri-service badge of the United Kingdom's armed forces.

Royal Air Force

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter TyphoonPan-European (British, German, Italian, Spanish)JetMulti-role2003107[1]130[a][1][2] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[3] which started in late 2016.[4][5] All Tranche 1s (apart from 4, perhaps those based in the Falklands)[6] to be retired by 2025.[7]
Lockheed Martin F-35B LightningUnited States [8] (UK as Level 1 partner)JetStealth Multi-role201333[b][9]34[c][9][10][11][12] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 138 aircraft to be procured[13][14][15] One F-35B crashed November 2021.[16]
AEW&C
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1United StatesJetAW&C2022-3Originally five on order, now reduced to three, service entry anticipated late 2025.[17][2]
Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol
Beechcraft Shadow R.1United StatesPropellerISTAR200968[18][2] Expected OSD 2030.[19] A further two aircraft are to be added by 2025 along with an upgrade to the current aircraft.[20]
Boeing RC-135W Rivet JointUnited StatesJetSIGINT201333[2] Formally known as Airseeker.[21]
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1United StatesJetASW/Anti-ship[22]201999
Tanker / Transport
Airbus VoyagerAirbus (European, Multinational)JetTanker / Transport2011914[2] Five additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services.[23]
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster IIIUnited StatesJetTransport200188[2]
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1Airbus (European, Multinational)PropellerTransport20142222[d][24][25][2] Up to six additional aircraft planned for procurement by 2030.[26][27][28]
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1FranceJetTransport20222[29]2Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026.[30]
Helicopter
Leonardo AW109SPUnited Kingdom / ItalyRotorcraftTransport201611[2] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers.[31]
Boeing ChinookUnited StatesRotorcraftTransport19806075Operational numbers being reduced to 51 helicopters.[32]
Westland/Airbus Helicopters Puma HC.2United KingdomRotorcraftTransport1971
2013		23[33]23Type may continue in service to 2028.[34][2][35]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2GermanyRotorcraftTransport2024-6Six aircraft ordered; to replace Puma HC2s deployed in Cyprus and Brunei from 2024.[36][37]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929[2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877[2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
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.[38][39]
Beechcraft Texan T1United StatesPropellerTrainer20181439[2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Embraer Phenom T.1BrazilJetTrainer201855[2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Grob Prefect T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323[2] Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF.
Grob Tutor T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer199991 [e]119[2] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018.[40]
Grob Viking T.1GermanyGliderTrainer19905291The 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.[41][42]
Protector RG1United StatesUAVISR / Attack202311616 ordered; first aircraft delivered in September 2023.[43]

RAF Red Arrows

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
British Aerospace Hawk T.1United KingdomJetTrainer19801212[2] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[44] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[45]

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 KingdomPropellerFighter1938551 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 2 PR.XIX

Army Air Corps

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Attack helicopters
Boeing AH-64E Apache GuardianUnited StatesRotorcraftAttack202038[46]50[47] 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 WildcatUnited KingdomRotorcraftUtility20142534Up to 8 helicopters serve with the Fleet Air Arm's 847 Squadron in support of the Royal Marines.[48][2]
Transport helicopters
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin IIFranceRotorcraftSAS20095[49]6
UAV
Thales Watchkeeper WK450United KingdomUAVISR20144950[2]

Fleet Air Arm

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Combat Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-35B LightningUnited States (UK as Level 1 partner)JetStealth Multi-role2013--Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020;[50] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023 with initial squadron operating capability projected for December 2024.[51]
Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2United KingdomRotorcraftAttack20142828[2]
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2United KingdomRotorcraftASW/AEW20003044[2] Expected OSD 2040.[52][53]
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat AH1United KingdomRotorcraftUtility/Reconnaissance2014--Up to 8 Army Air Corps aircraft tasked to 847 Naval Air Squadron in support of the Royal Marines.[48]
Transport helicopters
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4AUnited KingdomRotorcraftTransport20002525[2] Expected OSD 2040.[52][53]
Trainer Aircraft
Grob TutorGermanyPropellerTrainer199955Introductory fight training; operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron[54]

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[f].[55]
Eurocopter AS350 ÉcureuilFranceRotorcraftTrainer33Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS[g].
Eurofighter TyphoonUnited KingdomJetMulti-role33BAE Systems, Warton[h].
Hawker HunterUKJetFighter33[56]Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Scampton.
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIUnited StatesJetMulti-role2013--Three-four of 33 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role.[57][9]
Westland Sea KingUnited KingdomRotorcraftTrainer22HeliOperations under CFAOS[i].
Airbus ZephyrUnited KingdomHigh-altitude pseudo-satelliteUAV33Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform.[58][59]

UK Military Flying Training System

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Grob Prefect T.1GermanyPropellerTrainer20182323Serves with 57 Squadron RAF, 703 Naval Air Squadron and 674 Squadron, Army Air Corps.[2][60][61][62]
Beechcraft Texan T.1United StatesPropellerTrainer20181414Serves with 72 Squadron RAF.[63][2]
Beechcraft AvengerUnited StatesPropellerTrainer201144Serves with 750 Naval Air Squadron.[2]
Embraer Phenom T.1BrazilJetTrainer201855Serves with 45 Squadron RAF.[64][2]
BAE Systems Hawk T.2United KingdomJetJet trainer20092828Serves with No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron.[2]
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer20182929Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF, 705 Naval Air Squadron and 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps.[2][65][66]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1GermanyRotorcraftTrainer201877Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF.[2][67]

See also

Notes

References

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