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Revision as of 01:40, 14 February 2010

Royal Air Force
The RAF Ensign
Founded	1 April 1918
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Air Force
Part of	British Armed Forces
Air Staff Offices	MOD Main Building, Whitehall
Size	Over 1200 aircraft, over 500 helicopters, and 100000 personnel (2007)
Motto	Per Ardua ad Astra ('Through Struggle to the Stars')
March	Royal Air Force March Past
Commanders
Chief of the Air Staff	Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy
Notable Commanders	Lord Trenchard Lord Portal Lord Dowding Keith Park
Insignia
RAF Badge
RAF Roundel
RAF Tactical Roundel
RAF Low Visibility Roundel
Aircraft flown
Bomber	General Dynamics Vengeance (FB-111H), Panavia Tornado IDS
Fighter	Boeing Eagle (F-15K), Boeing/BAe Hornet (F/A-18K/M), Eurofighter Typhoon
Ground Attack	BAe Harrier
Electronic Warfare	Panavia Tornado ECR, Boeing Sentry (E-3D)
Reconnaissance	Boeing 707 R.1, English Electric Canberra, Raytheon Sentinel
Patrol	Lockheed Orion (P-3G), General Atomics Reaper (MQ-9)
Transport	Boeing Globemaster (C-17), Lockheed Martin Hercules (C-130K, C-130J, C-130J-30), Boeing 707, Lockheed Tristar, BAe 146, BAe 125
Training	BAe Hawk, Short Tucano, Beech King Air, Slingsby Firefly, Bell Griffin, Aerospatiale Squirrel
Helicopters	AgustaWestland Merlin, Boeing Chinook, Westland Puma, Westland Sea King, Westland Wessex

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air arm of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918 the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts. The majority of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the United Kingdom with many others serving on operations or at long-established overseas bases (notably the Falkland Islands, and Gibraltar).

Structure

The professional head of the RAF is the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. The CAS heads the Air Force Board, which is a committee of the Defence Council. The Air Force Board is the management board of the RAF and consists of the Commander-in-Chief of Air Command, together with several other high ranking officers. The CAS also has a deputy known as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS); this post is held by Air Vice-Marshal T M Anderson.

The Air Force Board delegates authority to various functional commands:

• Strike Command
  • Combat air power
• Air Support Command
  • Transport aircraft, tankers, support helicopters
• Personnel and Training Command
  • Air and ground training
• Support Command
  • Facilities, logistics, and deep level maintenance

Strike Command

Strike Command performs all the combat tasks of the RAF including air defence, ground attack, nuclear and conventional strike, maritime reconnaissance and strike, and reconnaissance.

It has the following combat units:

• No. 1 Group
  • 1 Group is a tactical group. It operates some of the RAF's Hornets, Typhoons, and Harriers.
• No. 2 Group
  • 2 Group is a tactical group. It operates some of the RAF's Hornets, Typhoons, and Harriers.
• No. 3 Group
  • 3 Group is a strike group, and operates Tornado GR.4s.
• No. 4 Group
  • 4 Group is a bomber group, and operates Vengeances.
• No. 5 Group
  • 5 Group is a surveillance and reconnaissance group.
• No. 11 Group
  • 11 Group has been since 1940 Britain's premier air defence formation. It is split into four fighter wings (two covering Southern England, and one each covering Northen England-Wales, and Scotland-Northern Ireland), and five missile wings. It operates Eagle F.3s, and Sentrys. 11 Group has a secondary tactical strike and support role. 11 Group operates the RAF's Land Dart missile batteries.
• No. 12 Group
  • 12 Group is a tactical group. It operates some of the RAF's Hornets, Typhoons, and Harriers.
• No. 18 Group
  • 18 Group is Strike Command's maritime reconnaissance and strike group. It has the RAF's maritime patrol Nimrods, Orions, and two Tornado GR.4 squadrons which are tasked primarily with maritime strike.

Recruiting logo of the Royal Air Force

Transport Command

Air Support Command fulfills all combat support roles of the RAF. It operates transports, tankers, and helicopters.

• No. 15 Group
  • 15 Group is Transport Command's helicopter group, divided into an air/sea rescue wing, a heavy-lift helicopter wing, a medium-lift helicopter wing, and an "out of Europe" support helicopter wing equipped with Wessex.
• No. 20 Group
  • 20 Group is Transport Command's fixed-wing tactical transport group, divided into three tactical transport wings
• No. 21 Group
  • 21 Group is Transport Command's strategic transport group one strategic transport wing, and two tanker-transport wings

Personnel and Training Command

Personnel and Training Command is the RAF's training command. Its flying units are all training units, along with the Red Arrows.

Order of Battle

Strike Command

Bombers

• 4 Squadrons of General Dynamics Vengeance B.2

Fighter/Ground Attack

• 12 Squadrons of Boeing Eagle F.4/T.5
• 11 Squadrons of Boeing Eagle GR.3
• 3 Squadrons of Eurofighter Typhoon T.1/F.2/T.3/FGR.4
• 13 Squadrons of Boeing/BAe Hornet FGR.3/T.4
• 7 Squadrons of BAe Harrier GR.7/GR.9/T.10/T.12

Electronic Warfare/Reconnaissance

• 1 Squadron of BAe Nimrod MRA.4
• 3 Squadrons of Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2
• 1 Squadron of Boeing Sentry AEW.1 (15 aircraft)
• 2 Squadrons of Boeing Eagle E.6
• 1 Squadron of English Electric Canberra PR.9
• 1 Squadron of Raytheon Sentinel R.1 (15 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R.1 (12 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of Boeing 707 R.4 (12 aircraft)
• 1 Squadron of General Atomics Reaper DR.1

Surface to Air Missiles

• 15 Squadrons of Land Dart¹ (2 launch units per squadon)

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft are regularly seen at events commemorating World War II, upon British State occasions, notably the Trooping the Colour celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday in 2006, and at air displays throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. All aircraft in the flight are regarded as active service RAF aircraft, and are part of 11 Group due to that Group's outstanding performance during the Battle of Britain.

The Flight is administratively part of No. 1 Group RAF, flying out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

• 1 Avro Lancaster B.1
• 1 Supermarine Spitfire F.2
• 1 Supermarine Spitfire F.5B
• 1 Supermarine Spitfire F.9
• 2 Supermarine Spitfire PR.19
• 2 Hawker Hurricane F.2
• 1 Douglas Dakota C.3
• 2 de Havilland Chipmunk T.10

Apart from the Chipmunks, all appear in period colour schemes. The Chipmunks are not used for display flying. They are used to train BBMF pilots to operate tail-wheel aircraft, and general support. They therefore wear the same all over gloss black colour scheme as all RAF trainers.

Transport Command

Transport

• 4 Squadrons of Lockheed Hercules C.1/C.3
• 4 Squadrons of Lockheed Martin Hercules C.4/C.5
• 2 Squadrons of Boeing Globemaster C.1

Tankers

• 1 Squadron of Lockheed Tristar K.1/C.2/C.2A
• 2 Squadrons of Boeing 707 C.3K
• 2 Squadrons of Boeing 707 C.2K
• 1 Squadron of Boeing 707 K.1A

No 32 (The Royal) Squadron

No 32 (The Royal) Squadron is primarily a communications and military transport squadron. Its secondary role is providing VIP transport to senior members of the British Government, and the Royal Family.

• 2 Vickers VC10 CC.1
• 2 BAe 146 CC.2
• 6 BAe 125 CC.3
• 3 Sikorsky S-76 HCC.1

Support Helicopters

• 6 Squadrons of AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3
• 6 Squadrons of Boeing Chinook HC.2/HC.2A/HC.3
• 4 Squadrons of Westland Puma HC.1
• 3 Squadrons of Westland Sea King HAR.3
• 3 Squadrons of Westland Wessex HC.2

Personnel and Training Command

Personnel and Training Command controls all of the RAF's training units, both air and ground.

• No.1 Elementary Flying Training School (Flight Screening, Elementary Training, University Air Squadrons, Air Experience Flights for the Air Training Corps)
  • 50 Slingsby Firefly T.1
  • 14 University Air Squadrons/Air Experience Flights
    • 4 Slingsby Firefly T.1's each
• No 1 Flying Training School (Basic jet training)
  • 130 Short Tucano T.1
• No 4 Flying Training School (Advanced jet training, lead-in fighter training)
  • 150 BAe Hawk T.1/T.1A
• No.3 Flying Training School (multi-engine, navigator, non-commissioned aircrew training)
  • 29 Slingsby Firefly T.1
  • 10 Beech King Air T.1
  • 9 BAe Dominie T.1
• Defence Helicopter Flying School
  • 26 Aerospatiale Squirrel HT.1
  • 16 Bell Griffin HT.1
• SARTU (Search And Rescue Training Unit)
  • 6 Bell Griffin HT.1
• Central Flying School (Instructor training, uses aircraft from other units)
  • CFS Glider Squadron
  • CFS Tucano Squadron
  • CFS Helicopter Squadron
  • CFS Hawk Squadron
  • Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (Red Arrows)
    • 9 BAe Hawk T.1
• 28 Volunteer Gliding Squadrons
  • 100 PZL Bielsko T.1
  • 77 Slingsby Venture T.1

Support Command

Support Command contains no flying units. The only combat unit in RAF Support Command is the RAF Regiment.

RAF Regiment

• 7 Field Squadrons (each stronger than an infantry company)
• CBRN Squadron (Chemical Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)
• 4 Ground Based Air Defence Squadrons
• 4 Light Armoured Squadrons
• 4 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Field Squadrons

63 Squadron (Queen's Colour Squadron) often performs "public duties" including the Queen's Guard.

Ground Based Air Defence Squadrons are equipped with Rapier (Field Squadrons additionally use Starstreak). Light Armoured Squadrons use the Scimitar and Scorpion light tanks, and Spartan armoured personnel carriers.

Weapons

• Browning L9A1 9mm SAA Pistol
• SA80 Series
  • L85A2 .223" SAA Rifle
  • L86A2 .223" SAA Designated Marksman Rifle
  • L22A2 .223" SAA Carbine
• L108A1 MINIMI .223" SAA Light Machine Gun
• L7A2 .308" SAA General Purpose Machine Gun
• L2A1 .5" SAA Heavy Machine Gun
• L115A1 .338" SAA Sniper Rifle
• L9A1 2in Light Mortar
• L16 3.1in Mortar
• L17A1 40mm Under-slung Grenade Launcher (M203PI)
• L19A1 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (Mk.19 mod.3)
• L14A1 Carl Gustav 84mm Recoilless Rifle
• L1A1 66mm Rocket
• MILAN 2 ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile)
• FGM-148 Javelin ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile)
• Bofors L/70 40mm anti aircraft gun
• Starstreak HVM
• Rapier Field Standard C

Weapons

Guns

• Aden 30mm cannon
• Aden 25 25mm cannon
• M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon
• Pontiac M39 20mm cannon (RHKAAF only)
• M134 7.62mm Minigun
• M60D 7.62mm machine gun
• L7 7.62mm machine gun

Air to Air Missiles

• AIM-9L Sidewinder
• AIM-132 ASRAAM
• Skyflash
• AIM-120B AMRAAM
• AIM-120C AMRAAM

Air to Surface Missiles

• AGM-109 Tomahawk
• AGM-69K UK-SRAM
• ASMP
• Storm Shadow
• MBDA Apache
• Sea Eagle
• AGM-84 Harpoon
• ALARM (Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile)
• Brimstone
• AGM-114 Hellfire
• AGM-65 Maverick

Guided Bombs

• Paveway II
  • Bomb, 1000-LB, HE, MC, MK 13/18
  • Bomb, 540-LB, MC, MK 1 & 2
  • SAMP BLU-109/B 2000lb
• Paveway III
  • Bomb, 1000-LB, HE, MC, MK 13/18
  • Bomb, 540-LB, MC, MK 1 & 2
  • SAMP BLU-109/B 2000lb
  • GBU-28 4500 lb
• Paveway IV
  • Mark 82 500-LB GP Bomb
• Enhanced Paveway
  • Bomb, 1000-LB, HE, MC, MK 13/18
  • Bomb, 540-LB, MC, MK 1 & 2
  • SAMP BLU-109/B 2000lb
  • GBU-28 4500 lb
• GBU-39 SDB (Small Diameter Bomb)

Unguided Bombs

• Bomb, 1000-LB, HE, MC, MK 13
• Bomb, 1000-LB, HE, MC, MK 18
• Bomb, 540-LB, MC, MK 1 & 2
• BL755 Cluster Bomb
• MBDA Durandal

Other Weapons

• WE.177 Nuclear Bomb
  • WE.177A Tactical Nuclear Bomb
  • WE.177B Strategic Thermonuclear Bomb
  • WE.177C Tactical Thermonuclear Bomb
• CRV7 75mm unguided rocket in LAU-5002 6 round launcher, LAU-5003 19 round launcher, and SUU-5003 training launcher
• Sting Ray torpedo
• Bomb, Incendiary, 750lb Mk.40

Reconnaissance and Targeting Pods

• TIALD (Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator)
• RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado)
• DJRP (Digital Joint Reconnaissance Pod)

Markings

The RAF has used a variations on a Red-White-Blue roundel for all of its history. Initially, the Royal Flying Corps used a Union flag as the national marking, however this was easily confused with the German Iron Cross, and the roundel in the British national colours has been used since. These markings are also used on Army Air Corps, and Fleet Air Arm aircraft. Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft wear national markings appropriate to the Second World War (except the de Havilland Chipmunks)

Most Commonwealth countries use, or have used variations of the RAF Roundel (and all started using the RAF Roundel itself). The most common variation is replacing the red disc in the centre with a national icon, Australia for example uses the Kangaroo, while Canada uses a Maple Leaf, and New Zealand a Kiwi.

Roundel

Standard Roundel

The standard roundel blue-white-red is used on trainers, and all other non-camouflaged aircraft of the RAF such as the Tucano, and BAe 146.

Tactical Roundel

The blue-red tactical roundel is used on aircraft with a so-called "dark" camouflage including the Hornet, and Harrier. The aircraft using this roundel tend to be employed on air-to-ground missions, multi-role missions, and tactical transport.

Low Visibility Roundel

The light-blue-pink low visibility roundel is used on aircraft with a so-called "light" camouflage including the Eagle, Sentry, and Orion. The aircraft using this roundel tend to be tankers, maritime patrol, AEW, and air defence aircraft.

Fin flash

Each fin flash corresponds to a roundel above, and is always used with the respective roundel.

The fin flash is not used by the Army, or Navy. The Navy uses the words "Royal Navy" usually in white, or blue. The Army simply uses "Army", usually in black.

Standard Fin Flash

Tactical Fin Flash

Low Visibility Fin Flash

Other national markings

On several aircraft types (mainly transports), the Union Jack is used in addition to other markings (Globemaster), or in lieu of other markings (BAe 125). The Royal Cipher is occasionally (rarely) used on VIP aircraft.

The Royal Cypher of HM The Queen

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) is an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. Its main role is support for other government agencies in Hong Kong. It also has a single Squadron for air defence, and strike. Aircrews for the latter aircraft are on secondment from the RAF.

• 10 Northrop Tiger F.1 (F-5E Tiger II)
• 4 Northrop Tiger T.2 (F-5F Tiger II trainer, all based in the UK)
• 5 Sikorsky S-70
• 8 Sikorsky S-76
• 4 Slingsby T-67M-200 Firefly
• 4 Beech B200C King Air

Falkland Island Government Air Service

The FIGAS normally operates as an airline, but it has a supplementary military role with 2 Britten Norman AEW Defenders.

Rank Insignia

Officers

Marshal of the RAF is the rank of an Air Force Chief of the Defence Staff. It is also held by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Chiefs of the Air Staff are promoted to Marshal of the RAF on their last day.

Other Ranks

Non-commissioned aircrew wear an eagle above their insignia to distinguish them from aircrew.

Related Articles

• British military aircraft