List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
Active United Kingdom military aircraft directory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of military aircraft currently in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.
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 | 107[1][2] | 129[a][1][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 | Early 2030s[8] | 0[b][9] | 0[c] | 12 F-35A to be procured in early 2030s;[10][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 | Carrier-capable V/STOL Stealth Multi-role | 2013 | 47[d][15] | 48[e][15] | [16][17][18][19][20][21] Jointly operated with the Fleet Air Arm; 15 additional F-35B may be planned by 2033 but not confirmed in defence investment plan.[22][23][24][25][26][27] These 47/48 aircraft here are also listed below in the "Fleet Air Arm" table, as they are used in co-operation with the Fleet Air Arm. |
| AEW&C | |||||||
| Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1 | United States | Jet | AW&C | 2026[28] | 0[29] | 0[29] (+3 on order)[28] | Originally five envisaged, then reduced to three.[28] |
| Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol | |||||||
| Beechcraft Shadow R.1 | United States | Propeller | ISTAR | 2009 | 6[1] | 8[1] | [30] Originally expected OSD 2030.[31] 2026 Defence Investment Plan indicated aircraft to be superseded by autonomous systems.[32] |
| Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint | United States | Jet | SIGINT | 2013 | 3[1] | 3[1] | Formally known as Airseeker.[33] |
| Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1 | United States | Jet | ASW/Anti-ship | 2019 | 9[1] | 9[1] | [34] |
| Tanker / Transport | |||||||
| Airbus Voyager | Airbus (European, Multinational) | Jet | Tanker / Transport | 2011 | 14[1] | 14[1] | [35] |
| Transport | |||||||
| Boeing C-17A Globemaster III | United States | Jet | Transport | 2001 | 8[1] | 8[1] | |
| Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 | Airbus (European, Multinational) | Propeller | Transport | 2014 | 22[1] | 22[1] | Final aircraft in initial batch delivered May 2023.[36][37] |
| Dassault Envoy IV CC.1 | France | Jet | Transport | 2022 | 2[1] | 2[1] | Two aircraft introduced in 2022.[38] To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026.[39] |
| Helicopter | |||||||
| Boeing Chinook | United States | Rotorcraft | Transport | 1980 | 36[1] | 50[1] | All HC.Mk 6A variants being withdrawn from service; 14 CH-47-ER variants being delivered from 2027; overall operational numbers to stabilize at c. 36 helicopters[40][41][42] |
| AgustaWestland AW149 | United Kingdom[43] | Rotorcraft | Transport | From 2030 | 0 | 0 (+23 on order) | To replace former RAF Puma and Army Dauphin helicopters.[44] |
| Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2025[45] | 3 | 3 | Replaced former Puma HC2s & deployed with 84 Squadron on Cyprus from 2026;[46][47][48] 3 additional helicopters acquired by the Army Air Corps.[49] |
| Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
| Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | [f] | 29[1] | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
| Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | [f] | 7[1] | 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[1] | 28[1] | 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.[50][51] |
| Beechcraft Texan T1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | [f] | 14[1] | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
| Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | [f] | 5[1] | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
| Grob Prefect T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | [f] | 23[1] | Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by RAF. |
| Grob Tutor T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 1999 | [f] | 91[g][1] | Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the Finnish Air Force as of 2018 and 3 lost due to air accidents in 2009.[52] |
| Grob Viking T.1 | Germany | Glider | Trainer | 1990 | 52[1] | 81[1] | 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 | |||||||
| Protector RG1 | United States | UAV | ISR / Attack | 2023 | 10[53] | 10 (+6 on order) | 16 ordered; 10 aircraft delivered as of June 2025 with 4 in the UK and the other 6 in the US where they are used for testing and training; total of 16 aircraft to be delivered by end 2025.[54] |
RAF Red Arrows
| Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Aerospace Hawk T.1 | United Kingdom | Jet | Trainer | 1980 | 12 | 12 | [55] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[56] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[57] |
RAF 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
| Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack helicopters | |||||||
| Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian | United States | Helicopter | Attack | 2022 | 50[58][59] | 50 | 50 Apache AH1 remanufactured to AH-64E specification. Armed with M230 cannon and JAGM, Hellfire K1 and Hellfire Romeo missiles.[60] |
| Reconnaissance helicopters | |||||||
| AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Utility | 2014 | 25[1] | 34[1] | To be withdrawn from service from 2027;[61] up to 8 helicopters serve with the Fleet Air Arm's 847 Squadron in support of the Royal Marines.[62] These aircraft here are also listed below in the "Fleet Air Arm" table, as they are used in co-operation with the Fleet Air Arm. |
| Transport helicopters | |||||||
| Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2025 | 3 | 3 | Replacing former Puma HC2s deployed with British Forces Brunei; three additional aircraft acquired by the Royal Air Force.[45][46][47][48][49] |
| Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II | France | Rotorcraft | United Kingdom Special Forces | 2009 | 5[63] | 5[63] | [63][64] ZJ780, ZJ782, ZJ783;[63][65][66][67] ZJ785;[68][66][67] ZJ787[69][66][67] These are the helicopters of the No. 658 Squadron AAC (Army Air Corps). |
Fleet Air Arm
| Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat Aircraft | |||||||
| Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning | United States | Jet | Carrier-capable V/STOL Stealth Multi-role | 2013 | 47[15] | 48[15] | Jointly operated with Royal Air Force. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020;[70] 809 Naval Air Squadron stood up in December 2023.[71] These 47/48 aircraft here are also listed above in the "Royal Air Force" table, as they are used in co-operation with the Royal Air Force. |
| Attack/Reconnaissance helicopters | |||||||
| AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2014 | 22[1] | 28[1] | Planned for withdrawal by 2035 and be superseded by future autonomous aircraft.[72] |
| AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | ASW/AEW | 2000 | 23[1] | 30[1] | Expected OSD 2040.[73][74] |
| AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat AH1 | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Utility/Reconnaissance | 2014 | 25[1] | 34[1] | Up to 8 Army Air Corps aircraft tasked to 847 Naval Air Squadron in support of the Royal Marines;[62] future with 847 NAS unclear once withdrawn from army service.[75] These aircraft here are also listed above in the "Army Air Corps" table, as they are used in co-operation with the Army Air Corps. |
| Transport helicopters | |||||||
| AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Transport | 2000 | 21[1] | 29[1] | One aircraft crashed September 2024, second in June 2026;[76][77] Expected OSD 2040.[73][74] |
| Trainer Aircraft | |||||||
| Grob Tutor | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 1999 | 5 | 5 | Introductory fight training; operated by 727 Naval Air Squadron.[78] These aircraft here are also listed above in the "Royal Air Force" table, as the Tutor is used by Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. |
| Tactical vertical takeoff/landing UAV | |||||||
| Peregrine | Austria | Rotorcraft UAV | ISR | 2024 | 2 | 2 | Formerly deployed on HMS Lancaster; future tasking unclear.[79][80][81][82][83][84] |
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[1] | 2[1] | Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by Bristow under MRCOA[h]. Retired 31st March 2026.[85] |
| 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[86] | Hawker Hunter Aviation, RAF Leeming. | |
| Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II | United States | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | - | - | 4 of 47 F-35Bs operated in the United States by 17 Squadron RAF; test and evaluation role.[87][88][18] |
| Westland Sea King | United Kingdom | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2 | 2 | HeliOperations under CFAOS[k].[citation needed] | |
| Airbus Zephyr | United Kingdom | High-altitude pseudo-satellite | UAV | 0 | 3 | Solar-powered long-endurance UAV; observation and communications platform;[89][90] two of three aircraft in storage; MoD has not been a participant in any flights since 2021[91] |
UK Military Flying Training System
| Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grob Prefect T.1 | Germany | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 23[1] | Serves with 57 Squadron RAF, 703 Naval Air Squadron and 674 Squadron, Army Air Corps.[92][93][94] | |
| Beechcraft Texan T.1 | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2018 | 14[1] | Serves with 72 Squadron RAF.[95] | |
| Beechcraft Avenger | United States | Propeller | Trainer | 2011 | 2[1] | 4[1] | Serves with 750 Naval Air Squadron. |
| Embraer Phenom T.1 | Brazil | Jet | Trainer | 2018 | 5[1] | Serves with 45 Squadron RAF.[96] | |
| BAE Systems Hawk T.2 | United Kingdom | Jet | Jet trainer | 2009 | 28[1] | 28[1] | Serves with No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 29[1] | Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF, 705 Naval Air Squadron and 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps.[97][98] | |
| Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1 | European (Airbus Helicopters) | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 2018 | 7[1] | Serves with 60 and 202 Squadrons RAF.[99] |
UAVs and drones
Drone Wars UK, a British NGO which investigates the impact of drone warfare, has stated that as of 2025 transparency about the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) within the British military is limited, that Freedom of Information requests about UAVs are regularly refused on national security grounds, and that MOD ministers have refused to answer parliamentary questions on the basis that the use of UAVs is now an intelligence matter. Drone Wars UK have drawn up a list of 20 known UK military uncrewed systems and 20 known current UK programmes to develop UAV capabilities.[100]
See also
Notes
- Total inventory, including aircraft in maintenance at any given time
- To be procured to provide tactical nuclear strike capability but with "day-to-day" training role
- To be based at RAF Marham
- Includes the 4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
- Includes 4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; figures include one lost in November 2021
- In service figures are not applicable for these aircraft which operate under availability contracts.
- 91 Tutors in service across all Services of the UK Armed Forces.
- 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)