This is a list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA).
On 1 April 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was merged with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) which directly operated and controlled all naval aircraft. On 1 April 1924 the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force was created as a distinct component of the RAF, which existed until 24 May 1939 when command of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred back to Royal Navy control. Coastal Command patrol aircraft, including most large seaplanes, remained with the RAF despite their operations in a naval environment. Prototypes were largely under the control of the Air Ministry and not the Fleet Air Arm until their introduction into service.
Aircraft Acronyms in table ASW; Anti-submarine warfare AEW; Airborne Early Warning ECM; Electronic counter measures EW; Electronic Warfare aircraft ManufacturerModelVariantRoleOriginIn serviceWithdrawnNotesAgustaWestlandMerlinHM.1/2ASW/TransportUK2000n/aAgustaWestlandWildcatHMA.2AttackUK2015n/a28 orderedAirspeedEnvoyTransport/trainerUK194119411 ex-RAFAirspeedOxfordTrainerUK19421954ex-RAFArmstrong WhitworthWhitleyTrainer/transportUK19421947Avro652TransportUK194119422 impressed airlinersAvroAnsonTrainer/CommunicationsUK19421955AvroBisonSpotterUK19221929AvroLancasterHeavy bomberUK19451947 3 ex-RAFAvroRotaIAutogyroUK19351935AvroTutorTrainerUK19371942BeechcraftExpeditor/NavigatorTransportUS19431954Lend-leaseBeechcraftAvengerTrainerUS2011n/aBeechcraftTravellerCommunicationsUS19441946Lend-leaseBellancaPacemakerCommunicationsUS193919401 impressed ? BlackburnBaffinTorpedo bomberUK19341946BlackburnBlackburnSpotterUK19231931BlackburnBuccaneerS.1/2/2C/2DStrikeUK19621978BlackburnFirebrandTorpedo-fighterUK19441956BlackburnDartTorpedo bomberUK19221935117 aircraftBlackburnRiponTorpedo bomber/reconnaissanceUK19291935BlackburnRocFighterUK19381943BlackburnSharkTorpedo bomber/target tugUK19341944BlackburnSkuaFighter/dive bomber/target tugUK19381941Boulton PaulDefiantTarget tugUK19431946295 aircraftBoulton PaulSea BalliolTrainerUK19521963BrewsterBermudaDive bomberUS194219435 for evaluation onlyBrewsterBuffaloFighterUS19401941ex-Belgian BristolBeaufighterTorpedo bomberUK19431946BristolBeaufortTorpedo bomber/trainerUK19431946BristolBlenheimTrainerUK19411944ex-RAFBritish Aerospace (BAe)125CC.1VIP transportUK197119722 RAF aircraftBritish Aerospace (BAe)Harrier IIGR.StrikeUK20062011British Aerospace (BAe)JetstreamT.2/3TrainerUK19792011 16 ex-RAFBritish Aerospace (BAe)Sea HarrierFRS.1F/A.2T.8Fighter/reconnaissance/ground attack/trainerUK19792006 CiervaRotaIIAutogyroUK19391940CurtissClevelandDive bomberUS194019401 for evaluation onlyCurtissHelldiverDive bomberUS19431945Lend-lease 26 for evaluationCurtissSeamewReconnaissanceUS19441945Never used operationallyde HavillandDHC-1 ChipmunkTrainerUK19652005ex-RAFde HavillandDH.86Transport/trainerUK194019456 impressed/ex-RAFde HavillandDominieTrainer/transportUK19401963Some impressedde HavillandFlamingoTransportUK194019462 impressedde HavillandFox MothCommunicationsUK194119431 impressed de HavillandGipsy MothTrainerUK194019431 impressedde HavillandHornet MothCommunicationsUK193919451 impressed & 4 from Canadade HavillandMosquitovariousUK1944?de HavillandDH.60M MothTrainerUK193919436 impressed/ex-RAFde HavillandLeopard Moth?UK194019462 impressedde HavillandPuss MothCommunicationsUK194019431 impressedde HavillandQueen BeeTarget droneUK194119465 examplesde HavillandSea HeronTransportUK19611981Bought second handde HavillandHornetFighter/night-fighter/reconnaissanceUK19471954 198 aircraftde HavillandSea VampireFighter/trainerUK19481968de HavillandSea VenomFighter/electronic countermeasuresUK19541961de HavillandSea VixenFighterUK19581972de HavillandSea DevonTransportUK19551981de HavillandSea MosquitoStrike/target tugUK19461950sde HavillandTiger MothTrainer/communicationsUK19391965113 ex-RAFde HavillandVampireFighter/fighter-bomberUK19481950sDouglasBostonMedium BomberUS194119439 ex-RAFDouglasBostonMedium bomberUS19431945ex-RAFDouglasDakotaTransportUS194419463 aircraftDouglasDauntlessDive bomberUS194419469 evaluated but not usedDouglasSkyraiderAirborne Early WarningUS19511960English ElectricCanberraTrainer/target tug/droneUK1950s1992EurocopterAS365N-2 Dauphin IITrainer helicopterFrance1999n/aFaireyIIID & FSpotter/target tugUK19181940FaireyAlbacoreTorpedo/dive bomberUK19401943FaireyBarracudaTorpedo/dive bomberUK19431953 2,607 builtFaireyBattleTrainerUK193919443 ex-RAFFaireyFireflyFighter/night fighter/ASW/trainerUK19431956 1702 aircraft FaireyFlycatcherFighterUK19231934FaireyFulmarFighter/night fighterUK19401945 600 aircraftFaireyGannetASW/transport/EW/trainerUK19541979 342 including 44 AEWFaireyGannetAEW.3AEWUK19541979 44 AEWFaireySeafoxSpotting/reconnaissanceUK19371943FaireySealSpotter/reconnaissanceUK19331943FaireySwordfishITorpedo bomberUK19361946GrummanAvenger/TarponTorpedo bomber/ASW/EWUS19431962Lend-lease and MDAPGrummanWidgeonTransportUS19431946GrummanWildcat/MartletFighterUS19401944 992 of various marks Lend-leaseGlosterGladiatorFighterUK19381945GlosterMeteorTrainer/target tugUK1940s1960s?GlosterNightjarFighterUK19201924GlosterSea GladiatorFighter/communicationsUK19391945GrobTutorG115ETrainerGermany2000sn/aGrummanGooseTransportUS19421946Lend-leaseGrummanHellcat/GannetFighter/night fighterUS19431946 1,182 aircraftGrummanTigercatFighterUS194419452 for evaluation onlyHandley PageHarrowTransportUK19421943 9 ex-RAFHawkerAudaxTrainerUK194119454 ex-RAFHawkerHart/Hart TrainerTrainerUK19391942 8 ex-RAFHawkerHenleyTarget tugUK193919447 ex-RAFHawkerHunterTrainer/droneUK?1994HawkerHurricaneFighterUK19411945HawkerNimrodFighter/utilityUK19321942HawkerOspreyFighter/reconnaissanceUK19311940HawkerSea FuryFighterUK19471962HawkerSea HawkFighter/fighter-bomber/ground attackUK19531969HawkerSea HurricaneFighterUK19411944HawkerTyphoonFighter/ground attackUK194319431 for evaluation onlyHawker SiddeleyHawkT.1/1ATrainerUK19942022HillerHTHT.1HT.2Trainer/communicationsUS195319621976MDAPHuntingSea PrinceTrainer/transportUK19531978LockheedHudsonTransportUS194419454 ex-RAFLockheed MartinF-35 LightningF-35BFighterUS2023n/a 809 Naval Air SquadronMartinBaltimoreMedium bomberUS19441946 14 ex-RAFMartinMarylandMedium bomber/target tugUS194019447 ex-RAFMcDonnell DouglasPhantomFGR.1Fighter/ground attackUS19681978MilesMiles M.18CommunicationsUK1940?1 impressedMilesMagisterTrainerUK19371945MilesMartinetTarget tugUK19431947MilesFalcon SixCommunicationsUK194019411 impressedMilesMasterTrainerUK19401948MilesMonitorTarget tugUK19451955ex-RAFMilesQueen MartinetTarget droneUK194519463 examplesMilesWhitney StraightCommunicationsUK194019431 impressedNorth AmericanHarvardTrainerUS19431955 North AmericanMitchellMedium bomberUS194319431 for evaluation onlyParnallPantherSpotterUK19191926ParnallPetoSubmarine-borne reconnaissanceUK19261932ParnallPloverFighterUK19231924Operational evaluationPercivalPetrelTransportUK193919444 impressed/ex-RAFPercivalProctorTrainerUK19391955PercivalVega GullCommunicationsUK193919457 impressedPitcairnPA-39AutogyroUSA19411943ShortSeamewASW UK19561957Evaluation onlyShortSturgeonTarget tugUK19511959SikorskyHoverflyITraining/rescue/utility helicopterUS1943195224 aircraftSikorskyHoverflyIItraining/deck landing evaluation/liaison helicopterUS19481952SikorskyWhirlwindHAR.21HAS.22ASW/transport/air-sea rescueUS195219531970MDAPSopwithCuckooTorpedo bomber UK19181923232 aircraftStinsonReliantTrainer/communicationsUS19441946Lend-leaseSupermarineAttackerFighter/fighter-bomberUK19511957SupermarineSeafangFighterUK1946Evaluation only SupermarineSeafireF.17Fighter/reconnaissanceUK19421954SupermarineScimitarFighter/tankerUK19571970SupermarineSea OtterAir-sea rescue/reconnaissance/spottingUK19441950SupermarineSeagullReconnaissanceUK19231926SupermarineSpitfireFighterUK19421945SupermarineWalrusSpotter/air-sea rescue/UK19361946VickersWellingtonTrainer/transportUK19421946Ex-RAFVoughtKingfisherReconnaissanceUS19421943Lend-leaseVoughtChesapeakeTorpedo bomber/trainerUS19411944VoughtCorsairFighterUS19431947Lend-leaseVulteeVengeanceDive bomber/target tugUS19441947Lend-leaseWestland AircraftDragonflyHR.1HR.3HR.5Air-sea rescue helicopterUK19501953?197072 aircraftWestland AircraftLysanderTarget tugUK1940194467 ex-RAFWestland AircraftWalrusSpotter/reconnaissanceUK19211925Westland AircraftWessexHAS.1HAS.3HU.5ASW/air-sea rescue/transportUK1960?19651987Westland AircraftWhirlwindHAR.1HAR.3HAS.7HAR.9ASW/air-sea rescue/transportUK19541955196019641973 Westland AircraftWyvernTF.1Torpedo/strikeUK19531958 127 including 10 two-seat trainersWestland Helicopters/AérospatialeGazelleAH.1HT.2Trainer/utility helicopter UK1974201040 aircraftWestland HelicoptersLynxHAS.3/8AH.7ASW/air-sea rescue/transport helicopter UK19762017Westland HelicoptersSea KingHAR.5HAS.5/6AEW.2AHC.4ASW/AEW/air-sea rescue/transportUK19692018Westland HelicoptersWaspHAS.1ASWUK19631980
List of minor aircraft of the Royal Navy Helicopters to support the Royal Marines Westland Gazelle AH.1 - 12 helicopters (1974-2005) Agusta-Bell Sioux/Westland-Bell Sioux AH.1 - 14 helicopters (1968-1975) Westland Lynx AH.1, Lynx AH.7 and Lynx AH.9, Lynx AH.9A - (1982-2013) Westland Scout AH.1 - Six helicopters (1968-1982) AgustaWestland Merlin HC4/4A AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 - (2014- )
Airships and balloons List of British airships Barrage balloons R80 (airship) - One airship Operation Outward
UAVs and drones AeroVironment Puma - (2019- ) AeroVironment Wasp III - (2019- ) QinetiQ Banshee 80+ - (2023- ) Schiebel Camcopter Peregrine - (2024)
Obsolete UAVs and drones ARSAERO CT 10 target drone - (early 1950s) Boeing Insitu ScanEagle - (2014-2017), Operated by No.700 Naval Air Squadron. Northrop Chukar D.1 and Chukar D.2 target drone - 98 aircraft (1980s- ) Northrop Sheldduck D.1 target drone - (1959-1980s) RAE Larynx cruise missile - (1920s)
Gliders Akaflieg München Mü13 – One former Luftwaffe (1945–1957) DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter – Three (1947–1952) Eliotts Olympia I – One (1946–1955) DFS Kranich I – One (1946–1960) DFS Kranich II – One (1946–1953) Schneider Grunau Baby – Six (1946–1952) Slingsby Cadet – One (1946–1949) Slingsby Prefect – One (1953–1956)
Prototypes and minor aircraft Airspeed Fleet Shadower - Three-seat carrier-based maritime reconnaissance aircraft. One aircraft Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16 - Single-seat naval fighter biplane. Armstrong Whitworth Starling II - Single-seat fighter biplane. Naval variant of the Armstrong Whitworth Starling. One aircraft. Avro 571 Buffalo - Carrier-based torpedo bomber biplane. One aircraft, 1940-1941. Bell P-39 Airacobra - One P-39D aircraft (1944- ) Blackburn B-3 - Two-seat torpedo-bomber biplane. Two aircraft Blackburn B-54 - Carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Three aircraft Blackburn Airedale - Three-seat reconnaissance aircraft. Two aircraft Blackburn Blackburd - Single-seat torpedo-bomber biplane. Three aircraft Blackburn Firecrest - Single-seat streak fighter aircraft. Two aircraft Blackburn Nautilus - Two-seat spotter, interceptor fighter biplane. One aircraft Blackburn Sprat - Two-seat advanced trainer biplane. One aircraft Blackburn Turcock - Single-seat fighter biplane. One aircraft British Aerospace 125-600B - One aircraft. Used for testing Blue Vixen radar and other avionics for the Sea Harrier F/A.2. Bristol Type 173 Helicopter - One aircraft Fairey Ferret - Two-seat general purpose biplane. Fairey Firefly III - Single-seat fighter biplane. Naval variant of the Fairey Firefly Mk IIM. One aircraft Fairey Fleetwing - Two-seat fleet reconnaissance biplane. One aircraft Fairey Pintail - Two-seat fighter reconnaissance biplane. Three aircraft Fairey Spearfish - Two-seat torpedo-bomber, dive-bomber aircraft. Five aircraft Fairey Ultra-light Helicopter - Two-seat light helicopter. General Aircraft Fleet Shadower - Carrier-based fleet shadower aircraft. One aircraft Gloster Gnatsnapper - Single-seat carrier-based fighter biplane. Two aircraft