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FLEET AIR ARM
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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).
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CURRENT NAVAL AIR SQUADRONS
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SQUADRON |
LOCATION |
AIRCRAFT |
ROLE |
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702W |
Yeovilton |
Lynx Wildcat |
Trials/Training |
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702 |
Yeovilton |
Lynx Mk 8 |
Training |
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815 |
Yeovilton |
Lynx Mk 3/Mk 8 |
Onboard HM Ships |
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845 |
Yeovilton |
Sea King Mk 4 |
Commando Helicopter Force |
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846 |
Yeovilton |
Sea King Mk 4 |
Commando Helicopter Force |
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847 |
Yeovilton |
Lynx Mk 7/9 |
Commando Helicopter Force Support |
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848 |
Yeovilton |
Sea King Mk 4 |
Commando Helicopter Force Training |
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771 |
Culdrose |
Sea King Mk 5 |
Search and Rescue |
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814 |
Culdrose |
Merlin Mk 1 |
Anti-Submarine |
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820 |
Culdrose |
Merlin Mk 1 |
Anti-Submarine |
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824 |
Culdrose |
Merlin Mk 1 |
Operational Conversion Unit |
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829 |
Culdrose |
Merlin Mk 1 |
Onboard HM Ships |
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849 |
Culdrose |
Sea King Mk 7 |
Airborne Surveillance Training |
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854 |
Culdrose |
Sea King Mk 7 |
Airborne Surveillance Training |
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857 |
Culdrose |
Sea King Mk 7 |
Airborne Surveillance Training |
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(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. |
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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.
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