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Fleet Air Arm S-70B-2 Seahawk

The Fleet Air Arm (more formally known as the Australian Navy Aviation Group) is the operational part of the Royal Australian Navy responsible for the operation of aircraft aboard ship. The RAN operates two Australia (Invincible) class Aircraft Carriers as its main aviation force.

The FAA is currently an mixed force, operating helicopters, AEW aircraft, ASW aircraft, and strike fighters from aircraft carriers, surface combatants, underway replenishment ships, and shore bases in both the following roles"

• Fleet Air Defence
• Anti-Surface Warfare
• Land Attack
• Anti-Submarine Warfare
• Reconnaissance
• Vertical Replenshment
• Coastal maritime patrol
• Amphibious Operations (transport of troops and supplies, aerial fire support, and air defence)

The Fleet Air Arm performs mainly operational roles, it has few training resources. The RAN outsources all of its flying training, except conversion training, shipborne helicopter training, and carrier training. BAe Systems perform flight screening, the RAAF perform Basic, and Advanced Flying Training, Navigation Training, Fast Jet Training, and Lead-In Fighter Training. The Army (through the ADF Helicopter School) performs helicopter flight training.

Fleet Air Arm pilots also go on exchange postings to the Royal Navy and Air Force, and American Navy, and Marine Corps.

Future Fleet Air Arm plans include the replacement of the AV-8B Harrier II (which will coincide with the replacement of HMA Ships Australia and Vengeance), replacement of the S-70B-2 Sea Hawk, and AS 350BA.

Fleet Air Arm Units

Carrier Units

• 808 Squadron (VFA-808), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 12 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
• 805 Squadron (VFA-805), RAN (HMAS Fremantle)
  • 12 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
• 810 Squadron (HS-810), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 10 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 2 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
• 811 Squadron (HS-811), RAN (HMAS Fremantle)
  • 10 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 2 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk

Surface Combatant Units

• 816 Squadron (HS-816), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 12 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 15 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
• 851 Squadron (HS-851), RAN (HMAS Fremantle)
  • 10 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 17 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk

Vertical Replenishment

• 817 Squadron (HC-817), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 10 Sikorsky S-70A-44 Black Hawk
• 850 Squadron (HC-850), RAN (HMAS Fremantle)
  • 10 Westland Sea King Mk 50A

Training Units

• 724 Squadron (VT-724), RAN (RAAF Williamtown)
  • 10 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II
  • 10 Boeing TAV-8B Harrier II
• 725 Squadron (HT-725), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 12 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 4 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
• 726 Squadron (VT-726), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 4 CAC/Grumman TAS-2T Turbo Tracker
  • 8 CAC/Grumman AS-2T Turbo Tracker
• 723 Squadron (HT-723), RAN (HMAS Albatross)
  • 12 Aerospatiale AS 350BA Squirrel
  • 3 Agusta A190E Power

Non-Fleet Air Arm

• RAN Hydrographic Service¹
  • 1 Fokker F27 Friendship Laser Airborne Depth Sounder

¹Not part of the Fleet Air Arm, located for convience.

Aircraft Inventory

• 44 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
  • 34 Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus
  • 10 Boeing TAV-8B Harrier II
• 92 Sikorsky/Hawker deHavilland S-70
  • 38 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk
  • 44 Sikorsky S-70B-9 Seahawk
  • 10 Sikorsky S-70A-44 Black Hawk
• 20 Westland Sea King
  • 10 Westland Sea King Mk 50A
  • 10 Westland Sea King AEW Mk.57
• 3 Agusta A190E Power
• 12 Aerospatiale AS 350BA Squirrel
• 1 Fokker F27 Friendship Laser Airborne Depth Sounder¹

¹Not part of the Fleet Air Arm, located for convience.

Fleet Air Arm Deployment

Cruisers carry two S-70B-2 Seahawks. Frigates and destroyers carry one or two S-70B-2 Seahawks or S-70B-9 Seahawks. Voyager class destroyers carry 5 S-70B-2 Seahawks or S-70B-9 Seahawks. S-70A-44 Black Hawk and Westland Sea Kings are generally land based, but are routinely deployed to HMAS Success, Endurance, and Sirius for Vertical Replenishment operations. They can also be deployed to the RAN's Amphibious ships.

The aircraft carriers HMAS Australia, and HMAS Vengeance each carry 12 AV-8B Harrier IIPlus, 8 S-70B-2 Seahawks, 3 Sea King AEW Mk. 57.

The RAN's Harrier force carries out the following missions:

• Fleet air defence
• Maritime strike
• Close air support
• Land strike
• Air defence training (for the Army and Navy)

Two squadrons are deployed, 1 Squadron on HMAS Australia is home based at HMAS Albatross, the other in HMAS Vengeance based at HMAS Fremantle. The third squadron is a training/replacement squadron and is home based at HMAS Albatross.

S-70B-2 Seahawks are used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, boarding party support, and plane guard (on aircraft carriers). They are being replaced by S-70B-9 Seahawks. Both types serve side-by-side in the squadrons. There are three operational squadrons, an aircraft carrier squadron based at HMAS Albatross (with a detachment at HMAS Fremantle), and two surface combatant squadrons (one on each coast). A single training squadron at HMAS Albatross provides conversion and crew training.

The S-70A-44 Black Hawk is replacing the Sea King Mk.50 in the vertical replinshment role. The single remaining VERTREP Sea King squadron also does conversion training for AEW Sea Kings. Conversion training for the S-70A-44 is done by 725 Squadron (who also train Seahawk crews)

The RAN's AS 350BA Squirrel helicopters are used in the naval helicopter training role, and are based mostly at HMAS Albatross, though some are based at RAAF Fairbairn with the Defence Force Helicopter School. The Agusta A109E Power supports the Squirrel in 732SQN.

The Fleet Air Arm has two main bases, in line with the Two Ocean Navy Policy. HMAS Albatross (Naval Air Station East) in New South Wales supports units based at HMAS Kuttabul (Fleet Base East) in Sydney, New South Wales, most notably it is the land base for the air group of HMAS Australia. HMAS Albatross is also the Fleet Air Arm's headquarters, and training base. HMAS Fremantle in Western Australia supports the units based at HMAS Stirling (Fleet Base West) (most notably the air group of HMAS Vengeance). RAAF Pearce, and RAAF Williamtown also perform a training function for the RAN through the training of RAN fast jet pilots by 79SQN RAAF, and 76SQN RAAF.

Fleet Air Arm Aircraft

AV-8B Harrier II Plus

The Boeing/BAe AV-8B Harrier II Plus is the standard strike fighter of the Royal Australian Navy. It entered service in 1998 replacing the BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21 which had served the RAN since 1983. Although the Sea Harriers had plenty of fatigue life left in them, they lacked range (RAN doctrine stresses that tanking will not always be available), and beyond visual range capability. Their warload was also felt to be inadequate.

Both the British BAe Sea Harrier F/A.2 and American Boeing AV-8B Harrier II Plus were considered. The American Harriers also offered commonality with the USMC's Harrier force. Their APG-65 radars also offered commonality with the RAAF's Hornets, meaning that stocks of parts and trained technicians already existed in Australia. In addition, the Harrier II Plus had either twice the range or twice the warload of the Sea Harrier F/A.2. The all round superiority of the American Harrier made it an easy choice for the Marshall Defence Department.

The RAN's Harrier force has never seen combat, however in exercises, their performance has been excellent.

The RAN's Harrier force are primarily tasked with fleet air defence using the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Other taskings include maritime strike, and ground attack. Uniquely, the RAN Harriers are also used as minelayers.

Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21

The withdrawal of the offer to sell HMS Invincible came as a blow to the RAN, however the fantastic performance of the carrier during the Falklands War, and its Sea Harrier aircraft meant that the RAN wanted Harrier carriers. The Australian Government purchased two modified Invincible class carriers, 34 Sea Harrier FRS Mk. 21 aircraft, and 10 Harrier T Mk. 20. These were essentially identical to British Sea Harriers. Differences include the use of the Matra R550 Magic air to air missile, and the deletion of all electronics relating to the use of nuclear weapons.

The RAN's Sea Harriers performed well in service and saw combat in the 1991 Gulf War. Its replacement had not been considered due to the lack of viable STOVL fighters equipped with radar. Several unsolicited offers of AV-8B Harriers were made, but without a radar, the RAN wasn't interested. The introduction of the AV-8B Harrier II Plus piqued the Navy's curiosity, and during 1995 the Harrier II Plus was selected as a replacement fighter. The Sea Harrier was retired from RAN service in 2000. Most were sold to the Indian Navy as spares aircraft. Several remain in Australia as gate guards, and display aircraft. In addition, two are flying in private hands, one in RN markings, the other in the distinctive blue and grey RAN camouflage.

A-4G Skyhawk

The A-4G Skyhawk served the RAN between 1967 and 1984 on three carriers, Melbourne, Australia, and Vengeance. They also served with the RAAF in ground attack alongside the A-4K Skyhawk between 1988 and 1991. Eight A-4G Skyhawks were purchased in 1967 to replace the De Havilland Sea Venom on HMAS Melbourne. Two TA-4G trainers were procured to support them. In 1971, a further eight A-4G and two TA-4G were purchased.

Unlike American Skyhawks, the Australian Skyhawks had a fleet defence role, armed with Sidewinder missiles. Melbourne would generally embark four Skyhawks. The remainder would operate from HMAS Albatross. The TA-4G was not well-balanced enough to operate from Melbourne. They participated in a number of exercises over the next eleven years, and one third of the force were lost in crashes. The root cause of these crashes was the age and unreliability of the Melbourne, and the fact that it was really too small for an aircraft like the Skyhawk.

After the retirement of HMAS Melbourne, the surviving Skyhawks were placed in storage while a buyer was sought. The RNZAF purchased them in 1984. The Skyhawks served with the RNZAF (alongside fourteen A-4K Skyhawks from New Zealand) for four years and in 1988 became part of the RAAF. They soldiered on until 1995 when the RAAF ceased to operate specialised ground attack aircraft. There are currently four G-model Skyhawks flying in Australia, two with the RAN Historic Flight. One TA-4K is flying in New Zealand.

S-2 Tracker

The S-2 Tracker entered RAN service in 1967 as a replacement for the Fairey Gannet. They have operated from HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Australia, and HMAS Vengeance, as well as from the land bases of HMAS Albatross, RAAF Pearce, and HMAS Fremantle in the training and coastal patrol roles. The RAN has operated 55 Trackers (and variants). The RAN has lost only one Tracker in flight, although 10 wre destroyed by arson in 1976. 14 S-2E Trackers were ordered introduced in 1967. Six S-2 Trackers were ordered in 1976 (the order was increased to 16 after the hangar fire). These were frequently embarked on Melbourne, and provided an excellent ASW capability. Although they appeared to be less advanced than the Fairey Gannets they replaced (the Tracker for instance has piston engines rather than the turboprops of the Gannet), its electronics were better.

Sikorsky S-70

The Sikorsky S-70, which is manufactured in Australia by Hawker De Havilland, is the ADF's standard medium helicopter. In the RAN, it replaced three types (Westland Sea King, Westland Wessex, Westland Scout). It has replaced the Sea King twice (first in the anti-submarine role, and now in the utility role), and in the anti-submarine role is replacing a previous version of itself. The RAN operates three versions of this versatile helicopter:

• HdH/Sikorsky S-70B-2: Australian version of the SH-60B, with Australian-specified avionics. Introduced in 1989. 82 acquired, 32 remain in service. Seen action in the 1991 Gulf War.
• HdH/Sikorsky S-70B-9: Australian version of the MH-60R. Entered service in 2005. 82 ordered, 42 in service.
• HdH/Sikorsky S-70A-44: Australian version of the MH-60S. Entered service in 2003. Navy to acquire 20 in joint purchase with the Army. 100 to be purchased in total (Army and Navy). Replaces the Westland Sea King.

The RAN has operated 134 Sikorsky S-70 helicopters, and has 50 more order.