This is a list of

military aircraft A military aircraft is any Fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing or rotorcraft, rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat: * Combat aircraft are ...

currently in service with the

Armed Forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

Royal Air Force

, - ! colspan="8" , Combat Aircraft , - ,

Eurofighter Typhoon The Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo ...

, , United Kingdom , , Jet , , Multi-role , , 2007 , , 101 , , 137 , , Of the 22 two seat trainer aircraft 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the requirement which started in late 2016
All Tranche 1s to be retired by 2025. , - , Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning , , United States , , Jet , , Multi-role , , 2013 , , 29 , , 30 , , Jointly operated with

Fleet Air Arm The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy and is responsible for the delivery of naval air power both from land and at sea. The Fleet Air Arm operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike, the AW159 Wi ...

. Maximum of 60-80 aircraft to be
procured , - ! colspan="8" , AEW&C , - , Boeing 737 E-7 Wedgetail , , United States , , Jet , , AW&C , , 2022 , , 0 , , 3 , , Originally five on order, now reduced to three, to begin operating in 2024. , - ! colspan="8" , Reconnaissance , - , Beechcraft Shadow R1 , , United States , , Propeller , ,

ISTAR ISTAR stands for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. In its macroscopic sense, ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing ...

, , 2009 , , 6 , , 6 , , Expected 2030. A further two aircraft are to be added in 2023 along
with an upgrade to the current aircraft , - , Boeing Airseeker R1 , , United States , , Jet , ,

SIGINT Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of '' signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ...

, , 2013 , , 3 , , 3 , , , - , Boeing Poseidon MRA1 , , United States , , Jet , , ASW/ Anti-ship , , 2019 , , 9 , , 9 , , , - ! colspan="8" , Tanker , - ,

Airbus Voyager The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refuelling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 16 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 68 aircraft, of which 51 h ...

, , Spain , , Jet , , Tanker / Transport , , 2011 , , 12 , , 12 , , Two additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services , - ! colspan="8" ,

Transport Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipelin ...

, - ,

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two ...

, , United States , , Jet , , Transport , , 2001 , , 8 , , 8 , , , - , Airbus A400M Atlas C1 , , Spain , , Propeller , , Transport , , 2014 , , 21 , , 21 , , One on order expected to be delivered in the early 2020s , - , Dassault Envoy IV CC1 , , France , , Jet , , Transport , , 2022 , , 2 , , 2 , , Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2024 , - ,

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The C-130J is the newest v ...

, , United States , , Propeller , , Transport , , 2000 , , 13 , , 13 , , All to be withdrawn by 2023. , - ! colspan="8" ,

Helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attribu ...

, - , Leonardo AW109SP , , United Kingdom / Italy , , Rotorcraft , , Transport , , 2016 , , 1 , , 1 , , Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers , - , Bell Griffin HAR2 , ,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

, , Rotorcraft , , Utility helicopter, Utility , , 2003 , , 3 , , 3 , , Supplied and maintained by Cobham but operated by military aircrew. Used for
SAR, fire fighting and ISTAR duties amongst others in

RAF Akrotiri RAF Akrotiri ( el, Βασιλική Πολεμική Αεροπορία Ακρωτηρίου) is a large Royal Air Force base on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. It is located in the Western Sovereign Base Area, one of two areas which compri ...

, Cyprus , - , Boeing Chinook , , United States , , Rotorcraft , , Transport , , 1980 , , 41 , , 59 , , , - , Westland Puma HC2 , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , Transport , , 1971 , , 14 , , 17 , , , - ! colspan="8" ,

Trainer Aircraft A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristi ...

, - , Airbus H135 Juno , , Germany , , Rotorcraft , , Trainer , , 2018 , , 29 , , 29 , , , - , Airbus H145 Jupiter , , Germany , , Rotorcraft , , Trainer , , 2018 , , 7 , , 7 , , , - , British Aerospace Hawk T1 , , United Kingdom , , Jet , , Trainer , , 1976 , , 56 , , 172 , , Retired from aggressor role in March 2022; retained by the

Red Arrows The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial team ...

; to be retired by 2030. , - , British Aerospace Hawk T2 , , United Kingdom , , Jet , , Trainer , , 2009 , , 28 , , 28, , 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 , - , Beechcraft Texan T1 , , United States , , Propeller , , Trainer , , 2018 , , 14 , , 14 , , , - ,

Embraer Phenom 100 The Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 is a light business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The project was announced in November 2005. On 26 July 2007, the aircraft made its first flight. It was awarded a typ ...

, , Brazil , , Jet , , Trainer , , 2018 , , 5 , , 5 , , , - , Grob Prefect T1 , , Germany , , Propeller , , Trainer , , 2018 , , 23 , , 23 , , , - , Grob Tutor T1 , ,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...

, , Propeller , , Trainer , , 1999 , , 91 , , 119 , , Used by the RAF

Air Experience Flight An Air Experience Flight (AEF) is a training unit of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) whose main purpose is to give introductory flying experience to cadets from the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force. As of 20 ...

. 28 Tutors have been sold to the
Finnish Air Force as of 2018 , - , Grob Viking TX1 , , Germany , , Glider , , Trainer , , 1990 , , 52 , , 60 , , , - ! colspan="8" ,

UAV An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...

, - ,

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the Un ...

, , United States , , UAV , , ISR / Attack , , 2007 , , 9 , , 10 , , Expected 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV

RAF Red Arrows

, - , British Aerospace Hawk T1 , , United Kingdom , , Jet , , Trainer , , 1980 , , 7 , , 12 , , Retired from aggressor role in March 2022; retained by the

; to be retired by 2030. , -

RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

, - ,

Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British Second World War heavy bomber. It was designed and manufactured by Avro as a contemporary of the Handley Page Halifax, both bombers having been developed to the same specification, as well as the Short Stir ...

( ''PA474'') , , United Kingdom , , Propeller , , 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 The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was overshadowed in the public consciousness b ...

, , United Kingdom , , Propeller , , Fighter , , 1937 , , 2 , , 2, , 2 Mk IIc , - ,

Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Gri ...

, , United Kingdom , , Propeller , , Fighter , , 1938 , , 6 , , 6 , , 1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 1 LF.XVIe, 2 PR.XIX

Army Air Corps

, - ! colspan="8" , Attack helicopters , - , AgustaWestland Apache AH1 , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , Attack , , 2004 , , 18 , , 20 , , To be replaced by 50 AH-64E Apache Guardians in 2024 , - , Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian , , United States , , Rotorcraft , , Attack , , 2020 , , 4 , , 16, , Total of 50 aircraft are on order to replace the Apache AH1 , - ! colspan="8" , Patrol helicopters , - , Airbus H135M , , Germany , , Rotorcraft , , Patrol , , 2022 , , , , 30 on order , , Project Matcha, Gazelle replacement , - , Westland Gazelle , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , Patrol , , 1974 , , 14 , , 17 , , Expected 2025. , - ! colspan="8" , Transport helicopters , - ,

AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat The AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat (previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat) is a British military helicopter. It is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx designed to serve in the battlefield utility, search and rescue and a ...

, , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , ,

Utility As a topic of economics, utility is used to model worth or value. Its usage has evolved significantly over time. The term was introduced initially as a measure of pleasure or happiness as part of the theory of utilitarianism by moral philosophe ...

, , 2014 , , 25 , , 34 , , , - ,

Bell 212 The Bell 212 (also known as the ''Twin Two-Twelve'') is a two-blade, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, production was moved to Mirabel, Quebec, Canada ...

, , Canada , , Rotorcraft , ,

, , 1995 , , 3 , , 3 , , Used by No. 25 Flight AAC in Kenya in
support of , - , Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II , , France , , Rotorcraft , , SAS , , 2009 , , 6 , , 6 , , , - ! colspan="8" ,

, - , Thales Watchkeeper WK450 , , United Kingdom , , UAV , , ISR , , 2014 , , 49 , , 50 , ,

Fleet Air Arm

, - ! colspan="8" , Combat Aircraft , - , Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning , , United States , , Jet , , Multi-role , , 2013 , , - , , - , , Jointly operated with

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

. Initial Operational Capability (Maritime) in 2020;

809 Naval Air Squadron 809 Naval Air Squadron (809 NAS) is a squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the United Kingdom. It was first formed in 1941 and flew in the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean and the Far East during the Second World War. After active service during the Su ...

to stand up in 2023, operational capability projected for 2025 , - ! colspan="8" , Attack helicopters , - , AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2 , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , Attack , , 2014 , , 28 , , 28 , , , - , AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HM2 , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , ASW/ AEW , , 2000 , , 30 , , 44 , , Expected 2040 , - ! colspan="8" , Transport helicopters , - , AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin Mk4/4A , , United Kingdom , , Rotorcraft , , Transport , , 2000 , , 25 , , 28 , , Expected 2040 , - ! colspan="8" ,

, - , Beechcraft Avenger , , United States , , Propeller , , Trainer , , 2011 , , 4 , , 4 , , Forms part of the UK Military Flying Training System listed below but operated by 750 Naval Air Squadron

Ministry of Defence

As well as the military services, a number of defence contractors operate military aircraft on behalf of or leased from the

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in state ...

. , - , Agusta AW109 , , Italy , , Rotorcraft , , Utility , , , , 1 , , 1 , , QinetiQ, Boscombe Down , - , Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin II , , France , , Rotorcraft , , Utility , , 1999 , , 2 , , 2 , , Used as transport of instructors as part of FOST training. Operated by British International Helicopters under MRCOA , - ,

Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (or Squirrel), now Airbus Helicopters H125, is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, ...

, , France , , Rotorcraft , , Trainer , , , , 3 , , 3 , , Cobham Helicopter Academy, Newquay under CFAOS

Notes

References

External links

United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2014
(gov.uk)
United Kingdom Defence Statistics - 2013
(dasa.mod.uk) {{DEFAULTSORT:Active United Kingdom Military Aircraft *

Military aircraft A military aircraft is any Fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing or rotorcraft, rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat: * Combat aircraft are ...

United Kingdom Active Military Aircraft List United Kingdom military-related lists

Royal Air Force

RAF Red Arrows

RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Army Air Corps

Fleet Air Arm

Ministry of Defence

See also

Notes

References

External links