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Abbreviations


Royal Navy - Naval Aircraft (FAF) Forward Available Fleet - Fleet Air Arm Organisations - n5a1 -Armed Forces

NAVAL AVIATION

FLEET AIR ARM


The Fleet Air Arm numbers just over 5,200 personnel (mid 2013) and operates about 200 aircraft of various types. Operating Merlin, Sea King and Lynx helicopters from ships at sea and two main Naval Air Stations at Yeovilton and Culdrose, the Fleet Air Arm provides the Royal Navy with the aviation support required to conduct maritime operations.

During late 2012 Fleet Air Arm personnel numbers included 635 pilots of whom 123 were under training, 38 were fixed wing pilots and 597 were helicopter pilots.

NAVAL AIRCRAFT (FAF FORWARD AVAILABLE FLEET)

21 x Merlin MK 1 Helicopters. Anti-submarine warfare
11 x Sea King MK 5. SAR and Utility
10 x Sea King Mk 7. Provides radar airborne early warning to fleet
4 x Lynx Mk 3. Anti-submarine warfare and missile armed for surface ship attack
25 x Lynx Mk 8. Anti-submarine warfare and missile armed for surface ship attack
12 x Hawk. Fixed wing trainer
4 x King Air. Fixed wing trainer

(1) There are 28 x Lynx Wildcat on and deliveries of the first aircraft commenced in early 2013 with final aircraft being delivered in 2017. Lynx Wildcat should be available for operational deployment from 2015.

(2) Lynx Mk 3 are expected to leave operational service during 2013.

(3) Other Royal Naval helicopters (22 x Sea King HC4 - Commando Helicopter Force) are assigned to the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC).



CURRENT NAVAL AIR SQUADRONS


 

SQUADRON

LOCATION AIRCRAFT ROLE
       
702W Yeovilton Lynx Wildcat Trials/Training
702 Yeovilton Lynx Mk 8 Training
815 Yeovilton Lynx Mk 3/Mk 8 Onboard HM Ships
845 Yeovilton Sea King Mk 4 Commando Helicopter Force
846 Yeovilton Sea King Mk 4 Commando Helicopter Force
847 Yeovilton Lynx Mk 7/9 Commando Helicopter Force Support
848 Yeovilton Sea King Mk 4 Commando Helicopter Force Training
771

Culdrose

Sea King Mk 5 Search and Rescue
814

Culdrose

Merlin Mk 1 Anti-Submarine
820 Culdrose Merlin Mk 1 Anti-Submarine
824 Culdrose Merlin Mk 1 Operational Conversion Unit
829 Culdrose Merlin Mk 1 Onboard HM Ships
849 Culdrose Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance Training
854 Culdrose Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance Training
857 Culdrose Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance Training
       
(1) There are other training squadrons such as: 703 Sqn at Yeovilton (Grob Tutor gliders – air experience); 705 Sqn at Barkstone Heath (Squirrel Mk 1/2 - single engine helicopter training); 750 Sqn at Culdrose (King Air – pilot and observer training); 792 Sqn at Culdrose (aerial targets); HMS Gannet SAR Flight at Prestwick (Sea King Mk 5).

(2) The 12 x Hawk used for fleet training and support are based at Culdrose.

(3) The programme to transfer the RAF’s Merlin Mk 3 helicopters to the Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force, to replace the Sea King Mk 4, has begun, and should be complete by the end of 2015.





JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND


As from 1 October 1999 the Commando Helicopter Force joined with the support and battlefield helicopters of the Army Air Corps and the Royal Air Force in a new Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). The JHC is a single authority under Commander-in-Chief Land. The Fleet Air Arm contribution consisted of all the aircraft (plus about 1,000 personnel) of 845, 846, 847 and 848 Naval Air Squadrons plus 9 further aircraft from an attrition reserve.