Every British Military Aircraft — Complete List
United Kingdom has operated 110 distinct aircraft types across its military history — 23 still in active service, 1 on order or entering service and 86 retired or former.
Service status110 types
Fighters & Combat Aircraft
21 types
F-35 Lightning II
Status In service Service entry2013
Typhoon
Status In service Service entry2003
AV-8B Harrier II
Status Retired Service entry1983
Sea Harrier
Status Retired Service entry1980
Tornado
Status Retired Service entry1980
Jaguar
Status Retired Service entry1972
Harrier
Status Retired Service entry1969
Buccaneer
Status Retired Service entry1962
F-4 Phantom II
Status Retired Service entry1962
English Electric Lightning
Status Retired Service entry1960
DH.110 Sea Vixen
Status Retired Service entry1959
Folland Gnat
Status Retired Service entry1958
Supermarine Scimitar
Status Retired Service entry1957
Gloster Javelin
Status Retired Service entry1956
Hawker Hunter
Status Retired Service entry1954
Sea Hawk
Status Retired Service entry1953
DH.112 Venom
Status Retired Service entry1952
F-86 Sabre
Status Retired Service entry1949
A-1 Skyraider
Status Retired Service entry1946
DH.100 Vampire
Status Retired Service entry1946
Gloster Meteor
Status Retired Service entry1944Strategic Bombers
5 types
Military Helicopters
30 types
AW159
Status In service Service entry2014
H145M / EC645
Status In service Service entry2002
AW101
Status In service Service entry1999
H135M / EC365
Status In service Service entry1996
AH-64 Apache
Status In service Service entry1984
CH-47 Chinook
Status In service Service entry1962
AW149
Status Entering Service entry2014
H175
Status Retired Service entry2014
AW119
Status Retired Service entry2000
H125M / AS550 Fennec
Status Retired Service entry1990
AS565 Panther
Status Retired Service entry1986
Bell 412
Status Retired Service entry1981
H215M / AS532 Cougar
Status Retired Service entry1978
Westland Lynx
Status Retired Service entry1978
AW109
Status Retired Service entry1976
SA340 Gazelle
Status Retired Service entry1971
UH-1N Twin Huey
Status Retired Service entry1970
SA330 Puma
Status Retired Service entry1968
Westland Wasp
Status Retired Service entry1964
Westland Scout
Status Retired Service entry1963
Bristol Belvedere
Status Retired Service entry1961
Wessex
Status Retired Service entry1961
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
Status Retired Service entry1959
SA315 Alouette II
Status Retired Service entry1957
Saro Skeeter
Status Retired Service entry1956
Westland Whirlwind
Status Retired Service entry1954
Bristol Sycamore
Status Retired Service entry1953
H-19 Chickasaw
Status Retired Service entry1950
Bell 47
Status Retired Service entry1946
R-4
Status Retired Service entry1944Transport & Tanker Aircraft
19 types
A400M Atlas
Status In service Service entry2013
Airbus A330 MRTT
Status In service Service entry2011
Phenom 100
Status In service Service entry2008
C-17 Globemaster III
Status In service Service entry1993
Falcon 900
Status In service Service entry1986
BD-700 Global Express
Status Retired Service entry1999
Airbus A330
Status Retired Service entry1994
Jetstream 41
Status Retired Service entry1992
BAe 146
Status Retired Service entry1983
Jetstream 31
Status Retired Service entry1982
Short 360
Status Retired Service entry1982
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
Status Retired Service entry1971
BN-2B Defender
Status Retired Service entry1965
AW.660 Argosy
Status Retired Service entry1962
Blackburn Beverley
Status Retired Service entry1956
C-130 Hercules
Status Retired Service entry1956
Twin Pioneer
Status Retired Service entry1956
DH.106 Comet
Status Retired Service entry1952
Douglas DC-3
Status Retired Service entry1936Special Mission Aircraft
11 types
P-8 Poseidon
Status In service Service entry2013
E-7 Wedgetail
Status In service Service entry2010
King Air 350
Status In service Service entry1990
RC-135 Rivet Joint
Status In service Service entry1961
E-3 Sentry AWACS
Status Retired Service entry1977
Nimrod
Status Retired Service entry1969
King Air 90
Status Retired Service entry1964
Fairey Gannet
Status Retired Service entry1953
Shackleton
Status Retired Service entry1951
DHC-2 Beaver
Status Retired Service entry1948
P-2 Neptune
Status Retired Service entry1947Trainers
9 types
T-6 Texan II
Status In service Service entry2001
Grob G-115
Status In service Service entry1999
Grob G-120
Status In service Service entry1999
Hawk
Status In service Service entry1976
AW169
Status Retired Service entry2015
T-67 Firefly
Status Retired Service entry1974
Scottish Aviation Bulldog
Status Retired Service entry1971
Jet Provost
Status Retired Service entry1955
DHC-1 Chipmunk
Status Retired Service entry1946Unmanned Aircraft
15 types
MQ-9B SkyGuardian
Status In service Service entry2020
Watchkeeper WK450
Status In service Service entry2019Switchblade 300
Status Retired Service entry2011
S-100 Camcopter
Status Retired Service entry2010RQ-20 Puma
Status Retired Service entry2008
MQ-9 Reaper
Status Retired Service entry2007RQ-16 T-Hawk
Status Retired Service entry2007Wasp III
Status Retired Service entry2007
ScanEagle
Status Retired Service entry2005
RQ-11 Raven
Status Retired Service entry2003GEC-Marconi Phoenix
Status Retired Service entry1999
Hermes 450
Status Retired Service entry1998
MQ-1 Predator
Status Retired Service entry1995Canadair CL-289
Status Retired Service entry1990
BQM-74 Chukar
Status Retired Service entry1968Other National Fleets
National fleets — aircraft in service by country
- 🇺🇸 United States · all-time
- 🇷🇺 Russia · all-time
- 🇨🇳 China · all-time
- 🇮🇳 India · all-time
- 🇰🇷 South Korea · all-time
- 🇯🇵 Japan · all-time
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan · all-time
- 🇰🇵 North Korea · all-time
- 🇪🇬 Egypt · all-time
- 🇹🇷 Turkey · all-time
- 🇫🇷 France · all-time
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · all-time
- 🇮🇹 Italy · all-time
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan · all-time
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · all-time
- 🇮🇷 Iran · all-time
- 🇬🇷 Greece · all-time
- 🇩🇿 Algeria · all-time
- 🇩🇪 Germany · all-time
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · all-time
- 🇮🇱 Israel · all-time
- 🇧🇷 Brazil · all-time
- 🇪🇸 Spain · all-time
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia · all-time
- 🇵🇱 Poland · all-time
- 🇮🇶 Iraq · all-time
- 🇦🇺 Australia · all-time
- 🇨🇦 Canada · all-time
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine · all-time
- 🇦🇷 Argentina · all-time
Frequently Asked Questions
How many aircraft types has the United Kingdom military ever operated?
United Kingdom has operated 110 distinct aircraft types across its history and current inventory, including 23 still in active service and 86 retired or former types.
Does this list include retired United Kingdom military aircraft?
Yes. This page covers every aircraft type the country has operated — past, present, and future — with a green In service, blue Entering service, or grey Retired status badge on each tile. For the current-only fleet, see the in-service listicle.
What about prototypes and test aircraft?
This page tracks operational service types. Pure prototypes, X-planes and test aircraft that never entered squadron service are not included.