744 Naval Air Squadron (744 NAS), also referred to as 744 Squadron, is a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). From September 2024 the squadron became the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES), becoming the Ministry of Defence’s lead unit for the test and evaluation of unmanned aircraft system (UAS), based at MOD Boscombe Down. The squadron’s UAS work includes the evaluation of systems such as Stalker, Peregrine and Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, together with associated payloads, weapons, networks and mission systems.
Originally formed in 1943, the squadron has been re-formed several times for different training, anti-submarine warfare and test and evaluation roles. Its successive incarnations included Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC ship) and anti-submarine training during the Second World War, anti-submarine trials and development in the 1950s, and, following its re-formation at Boscombe Down in 2018, the testing and evaluation of aircraft, weapons, sensors and mission systems.
Re-formed at RNAS Maydown in 1944, 744 Squadron trained aircrew for Merchant Aircraft Carrier operations before developing a wider anti-submarine training role at RNAS Eglinton. It subsequently formed part of the Joint Anti-Submarine School (JASS), providing the Royal Navy’s air element for combined anti-submarine training, before being renumbered 815 Naval Air Squadron in 1947.
The squadron was re-formed at RNAS Eglinton in 1951 as an anti-submarine trials and development unit. During this period it conducted trials of anti-submarine equipment and tactics, including airborne search and detection systems, and operated Westland Dragonfly helicopters in a search and rescue role from 1952 to 1954. It was disbanded in 1956.
After more than six decades, 744 Squadron was re-formed at MOD Boscombe Down in November 2018 as the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron, bringing together personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force to test and evaluate aircraft, weapons, sensors and mission systems. Its early work included the introduction of the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control system (ASACS) for the Merlin HM2 and the evaluation and integration of weapons and other systems across several aircraft types.
History Air Gunner Training Squadron (1943–1944)
The squadron formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, on . However, as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the squadron moved to RN Air Section Yarmouth, located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada, almost straight away. It was equipped with Curtiss SO3C Seamew aircraft. Fifteen months later, in June 1944, the squadron was re-designated as 754 Naval Air Squadron due to the formation of another 744 Naval Air Squadron.
Merchant Aircraft Carrier and Anti-Submarine training (1944–1947)
The squadron re-formed at RNAS Maydown, County Londonderry, on 6 March 1944 as a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC-ship) training unit, equipped with Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber aircraft and providing trained crews for 836 Naval Air Squadron.
A detachment at RNAS Machrihanish, Argyll and Bute, provided live armament and anti-submarine warfare training, while the squadron also conducted deck-landing training aboard escort carriers in the Firth of Clyde. including providing Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training.
744 Naval Air Squadron swapped its Fairey Swordfish for Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber aircraft and then briefly, Fairey Firefly aircraft. The squadron moved to RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), located northeast of Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in October 1945 where it became fully engaged in anti-submarine warfare training. Avro Anson multirole training aircraft were introduced from August 1946 for the squadron’s anti-submarine training duties.
From November 1946, 719 Naval Air Squadron operated as an anti-submarine training squadron, bringing together and training aircrew before passing them to 744 Naval Air Squadron for more advanced training.
An anti-submarine tactics school had been established at the Londonderry Naval Airbase during the latter stages of the Second World War, and this was subsequently developed into the Joint Anti-Submarine School (JASS). JASS was officially opened on 30 January 1947 and was jointly commanded by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel. Its role was to train the crews of ships and aircraft in the broader aspects of anti-submarine warfare, with emphasis on the development and application of combined tactics.
744 Naval Air Squadron provided the Royal Navy’s air element of JASS, operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft from RNAS Eglinton.
On 1 December 1947 the squadron was renumbered as 815 Naval Air Squadron.
Anti-Submarine Trials and Development Unit (1951–1956)
744 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 20 July 1951 when X Flight of 737 Naval Air Squadron was redesignated as a Trials and Development Squadron within the Naval Air Anti-Submarine School at RNAS Eglinton. The squadron was equipped with Fairey Firefly and Fairey Barracuda anti-submarine warfare aircraft and Avro Anson multirole training aircraft and was tasked with trials and development work in anti-submarine warfare.
Its early work included trials of search receivers intended to detect radar emissions from submarines. A Fairey Barracuda was modified as a trials aircraft for this work under the name ‘‘Investigation Pointer’’. The squadron also participated in trials associated with Orange Harvest, an electronic support measures system designed to detect radar emissions which was subsequently fitted to Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft.
Two Fairey Firefly aircraft were fitted with a homing device for locating sonobuoys without relying on smoke markers. Following initial trials at Farnborough, the aircraft deployed to RNAS Hal Far in Malta from 3 October to 22 November 1951 for further trials involving submarines and surface ships.
From December 1952 the squadron also undertook search and rescue duties using Dragonfly HR.3 air-sea search and rescue helicopters. By 1953 it was also operating as the station flight at RNAS Eglinton.
The first phase of the squadron’s existence ended on 1 March 1954, when it disbanded at Eglinton. It was reformed the same day at RNAS Culdrose as the Naval Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit, working in conjunction with the Royal Air Force’s Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit at RAF St Mawgan. The squadron moved to St Mawgan on 23 October 1954.
Initially equipped with Fairey Firefly AS.6s, the squadron conducted a series of trials at St Mawgan, including projects identified by the codenames ‘‘Talbe’’, ‘‘Homer’’ and ‘‘Random’’. Fairey Gannet AS.1s were added from May 1955, followed two months later by Grumman Avenger AS.5s, while the Fairey Fireflies were subsequently withdrawn.
An X Flight was formed on 11 June 1955 to evaluate radar-jamming techniques. In October 1955 the squadron was restyled as the Naval Anti-Submarine Development Squadron. The X Flight subsequently became the basis of 745 Naval Air Squadron, which was formed at RNAS Eglinton on 23 April 1956 as a radar-jamming trials unit and used modified Grumman Avenger AS.5s to evaluate Orange Harvest equipment.
744 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RAF St Mawgan on 31 October 1956.
Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Sqn (2018–2024)
In late 2018, the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron (MS & Arm TES) was re-commissioned as 744 Naval Air Squadron at MOD Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. The squadron was established as a tri-service test and evaluation unit, drawing aircrew and aviation engineers from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Its role was to bring together operational and technical expertise to test and evaluate aircraft, weapons, sensors and upgrades for frontline service.
One of the squadron’s principal early responsibilities was supporting the introduction of the Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control system (ASACS) for the Merlin HM2 anti-submarine helicopters. It was also tasked with supporting the introduction of the RAF’s upgraded Chinook HC5 and HC6 transport helicopters. The squadron operated within the wider Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC) and maintained a close relationship with the Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES) at Boscombe Down. In ATEC activities supporting the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment, 744 Squadron provided trials officers who worked alongside QinetiQ specialist engineers and RWTES test pilots to gather evidence for aircraft and weapon-system clearances.
The squadron’s work included the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme for the Wildcat HMA2 utility, search and rescue (SAR) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) helicopter. The programme incorporated the Martlet lightweight missile, together with modifications to the aircraft’s weapons carriage, sensors and associated systems. ATEC used trials officers from 744 Squadron as part of its multidisciplinary test teams supporting the development and clearance of the capability.
In 2023, 744 Squadron supported further live trials of the Martlet missile from the Wildcat HMA2 helicopter. The trials, conducted with 825 Naval Air Squadron and other Defence and industry organisations, examined the missile’s effectiveness against moving surface targets and airborne threats. The activity culminated in the first successful air-to-air firing of a Martlet from a UK helicopter against a Banshee unmanned aerial target.
During the same period, 744 Squadron continued to provide specialist aerosystems expertise to the wider test-and-evaluation community at Boscombe Down. A 2023 account of RWTES described 744 Squadron as a trials-dedicated unit under the Air and Space Warfare Centre, with suitably trained aerosystems specialists from the squadron supporting rotary-wing test and evaluation activities.
In October 2024, personnel from 744 Squadron participated in the first guided firing of the Sea Venom anti-ship missile from a Wildcat HMA2 helicopter at the MOD Aberporth range in Wales. Lieutenant Commander Robin Kenchington of 744 Squadron described the firing as a full end-to-end demonstration of the missile system. The trial marked a major milestone in the integration of Sea Venom missile with the Wildcat HMA2 helicopter.
By 2024, the squadron’s remit had expanded into uncrewed aerial systems. A UAS Test and Evaluation Flight formed part of 744 Squadron and conducted initial flight trials of the Stalker VXE30 under Project TIQUILA, providing evidence for capability acceptance. This emerging UAS role preceded the squadron’s subsequent transformation to the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron.
Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (2024–present)
In 2024, 744 Naval Air Squadron transitioned to the Joint Uncrewed Air System Test and Evaluation Squadron (JUAS TES), becoming the Ministry of Defence's lead organisation for the test and evaluation of uncrewed air systems (UAS). The squadron's responsibilities include assessing platform performance and integrating payloads, weapons and advanced networks. It remains part of the Air and Space Warfare Centre and draws aircrew and engineers from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Its stated areas of UAS activity include the Stalker, Peregrine and Autonomous Collaborative Platform programmes.