MAJOR RE-EQUIPMENT PROGRAMMES

As of April 2006 there were approximately 775 fixed wing aircraft of 22 various types in RAF service (including those not in front line service).

Current major re-equipment programmes are:

• Joint Strike Fighter to replace current Harrier GR7/7A/9/9A

• Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experiment) (SUAV(E)) to replace Tornado GR4

• Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) to replace VC10 and Tristar

• Typhoon to replace Jaguar and Tornado F3 (in progress)

• Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainer to replace Hawk T1/T1A

• A400M to replace the Hercules C1/C3 fleet

• Nimrod MRA4 to replace Nimrod MR2

• Brimstone anti-armour weapon to equip Tornado GR4 and Harrier

• Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM - Meteor) to equip Typhoon