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This is the structure of the Royal Air Force.
Air Command was formed as a merger of Strike Command, and Personnel and Training Command to administer the majority of operational units within the RAF.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB serves as the Chief of the Air Staff, the professional head of the Royal Air Force, alongside Air Marshal Paul Lloyd CBE, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. Warrant Officer Murugesvaran Subramaniam was appointed the senior Warrant Officer of the RAF in April 2023. Air Marshal Allan Marshall was appointed Air and Space Commander in March 2024.
- Headquarters, RAF Air Command, at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire[1][2]
- RAF Safety Centre, at RAF High Wycombe[3]
- No. 7644 (VR) Public Relations Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Halton
- RAF Safety Centre, at RAF High Wycombe[3]
No. 1 Group
No. 1 Group is one of two operations groups within Air Command, controlling the RAF's fast combat aircraft and the associated airfields.
Air Vice-Marshal Mark Flewin was appointed Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group in 2023.
- Headquarters, No. 1 Group, at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire[4]
- No. 1 Air Control Centre, at RAF Boulmer
- RAF Coningsby
- No. 3 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[5]
- No. 11 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[6]
- No. 12 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[7]
- No. 29 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon) (Operational Conversion Unit)[8]
- RAF Typhoon Display Team[9]
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, (Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota, Chipmunk)[10]
- RAF Leeming
- RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 1 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[14]
- No. 2 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[15]
- No. 6 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[16]
- No. 9 Squadron, (Eurofighter Typhoon)[17]
- No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron RAuxAF[18]
- RAF Marham
- No. 207 Squadron, (F-35B Lightning II) (Operational Conversion Unit)[19]
- No. 617 Squadron, (F-35B Lightning II)[20]
- RAF Waddington
- Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (Red Arrows) (Hawk T1A),[21] at RAF Waddington
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force, at RAF Waddington[22][23][24] – formed part of the combined NATO Airborne Electronic Warfare Force[22]
- ISTAR Force Commander, Air Commodore Nick Hay[22]
- No. 8 Squadron, (E-7A Wedgetail), at RAF Lossiemouth[25]
- No. 13 Squadron, (MQ-9 Reaper)[26]
- No. 14 Squadron, (Shadow R1)[27]
- No. 39 Squadron, (MQ-9 Reaper)[26]
- No. 51 Squadron, (RC-135W Airseeker)[22][28]
- No. 54 Squadron,
- Detachment, at RAF Lossiemouth, (Poseidon MRA1)[29]
- No. 120 Squadron, (Poseidon MRA1),[30] at RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 201 Squadron (Poseidon MRA1), at RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron RAuxAF[31]
- Poseidon Line Squadron,[32] at RAF Lossiemouth
- Poseidon Tactical Operations Centre, at RAF Lossiemouth
- No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, at RAF Waddington[33]
- No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
- No. 2 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
- No. 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
- No. 54 Signals Unit
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Support Squadron
- RAF Coningsby
Air and Space Warfare Centre
- Air and Space Warfare Centre, at RAF Waddington[34]
- Development Division
- Operational Analysis Element
- Integrated Mission Support
- Operations Support Division
- Flying Division
- No. 17 Squadron, at Edwards AFB (F-35B Lightning II OEU)[35]
- No. 41 Squadron, at RAF Coningsby (Eurofighter Typhoon OEU)[36]
- No. 206 Squadron, at RAF Brize Norton[37]
- Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron, at MoD Boscombe Down[38]
- Empire Test Pilots' School, at MoD Boscombe Down[39]
- Operations Division
- No. 92 Squadron, at RAF Waddington[40]
- Command and Battlespace Management (Air) Working Group
- Information Operations Group
- Test and Evaluation Division
- No. 56 Squadron, at RAF Waddington (OEU for ISTAR)[41]
- No. 216 Unmanned Aerial Systems Test and Evaluation Squadron, at RAF Waddington (OEU for UAVs)[42]
- Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit, at RAF Brize Norton[43]
No. 2 Group
No. 2 Group is the other operations group within Air Command, providing aircraft that support the Royal Navy and RAF front line aircraft, the Royal Air Force Police, and the Royal Air Force Regiment. The group is headquartered at RAF High Wycombe.
Air Vice-Marshal Jason Appleton was appointed Air Officer Commanding 2 Group in February 2024.
Following the disbandment of No. 38 Group RAF on 31 December 2020, all units of the former group were moved under a new 1-star 'RAF Support Force', which now forms part of No. 2 Group.[44]
As of early 2023, No. 2 Group comprises the following stations and units.[45][46][47][48][49] Unless indicated otherwise, subordinate units are located at the same location as the unit they report to.
Stations
Air Mobility Force
- Headquarters Air Mobility Force (RAF Brize Norton)
- No.10 Squadron – Voyager KC2/KC3
- No. 24 Squadron – A400M Atlas and C-17 Globemaster III
- No. 30 Squadron – A400M Atlas
- No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron – Envoy IV CC1 and AW109SP GrandNew (RAF Northolt)
- No. 70 Squadron – A400M Atlas
- No. 99 Squadron – C-17 Globemaster III
- No. 101 Squadron – Voyager KC2/KC3
- No. 622 (Reserve Aircrew) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- Airborne Delivery Wing
- Headquarters and Operation Squadron
- Performance Development Squadron
- Parachute Engineering Squadron
- Parachute Training Squadron
- Support Squadron
- Airport of Embarkation Wing
Air Security Force
- Headquarters Air Security Force (RAF Honington)
- Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team (RAF College Cranwell)
- RAF Police Engagement Team (RAF College Cranwell)
- DSCU (North) RAF Section (RAF Cranwell)
- DSCU (East) RAF Section (RAF Halton)
- No. 1 RAF Police & Security Wing
- Headquarters No. 1 RAF Police & Security Wing
- No. 3 (Tactical) Police Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- Counter Intelligence and Security Squadron
- Force Protection Intelligence Centre
- Forensic Exploitation Flight (RAF Henlow)
- Digital Forensics Team+
- Scientific Support Unit
- No. 2 RAF Police & Security Wing (RAF Waddington)
- Headquarters No. 2 RAF Police & Security Wing
- No. 1 Tactical Police Squadron (No. 22 Group Security Squadron) (RAF College Cranwell)
- No. 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron (RAF Coningsby)
- No. 5 RAF Police (ISTAR) Squadron (RAF Waddington)
- No. 6 RAF Police (Lightning) Squadron (RAF Marham)
- Defence Warning and Reporting Flight (RAF Waddington)
- No. 3 RAF Police & Security Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
- Headquarters No. 3 RAF Police & Security Wing
- No. 7 RAF Police (Air Mobility) Squadron
- Battlespace Management & Space Security Squadron
Air Command and Control Force
- Headquarters Air Command and Control Force (RAF Boulmer)
- No. 144 Signals Unit
- No. 19 Squadron
- No. 20 Squadron
- No. 78 Squadron (Swanwick)
- No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (RAF St Mawgan)
- No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (Glasgow)
- No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (RAF Leeming)
- UK Air Surveillance And Control System
Combat Readiness Force
- Headquarters Combat Readiness Force, at RAF Honington
- No. 2 Force Protection (Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems) Wing[50]
- Wing Headquarters, at RAF Leeming
- No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment (King's Colour Squadron), at RAF Northolt
- No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF
- No. 3 Force Protection Wing[50]
- No. 5 Force Protection Wing[50]
- No. 7 Force Protection Wing[50]
- Wing Headquarters, at RAF Coningsby
- Air Land Integration (ALI) Cell
- Tactical Air Traffic Control (Tac ATC), at RAF Brize Norton[51]
- No. II Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton
- No. 2624 (County of Oxfordshire) Squadron (RAuxAF) Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton
- No. 20 Wing RAF Regiment[50]
- Wing Headquarters, at RAF Honington
- No. 1 Squadon RAF Regiment
- No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron (RAuxAF) Regiment
- RAF Regiment Training Wing[50]
- Headquarters, at RAF Honington
- Regimental Training Squadron (Basics)[52]
- Regimental Training Squadron (Advanced)
- RAF Regiment Recruitment & Selection Flight (RRRSF)[53]
- RAF Force Protection Centre[50]
- Headquarters, at RAF Honington[54]
- Air Force Protection Training Squadron
- Air Force Protection Collective Training Squadron
- Development Squadron
- No. 2 Force Protection (Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems) Wing[50]
RAF Medical Services
- RAF Medical Services Headquarters (RAF High Wycombe)
- Tactical Medical Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
- Headquarters Tactical Medical Wing
- Aeromedical Evacuation Control Centre
- Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- Capability and Sustainment Squadron
- Operations Squadron
- Training Squadron
- Medical Reserves Support Cell
- Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
- RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine (RAF Henlow)[55]
- Aviation Medicine Wing
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wing
- Support Wing
- Tactical Medical Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
Support Force
- Headquarters Support Force (RAF Wittering)
- No. 1 Air Mobility Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
- Air Movements Squadron
- Operational Support Squadron
- Mobile Air Movements Squadron
- No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing (RAF Wittering)
- Headquarters No. 42 (ES) Wing
- No. 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron
- No. 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Squadron
- No. 5001 Squadron
- Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron (MOD Boscombe Down)
- No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing (RAF Wittering)
- Headquarters No. 85 (EL) Wing
- No. 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron
- No. 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron
- No. 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
- No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- RAF Mountain Rescue Service (RAF Valley)
- Headquarters RAF Mountain Rescue Service
- RAF Leeming Mountain Rescue Team (RAF Leeming)
- RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Team (RAF Lossiemouth)
- RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Team (RAF Valley)
- RAF Music Services (RAF Northolt)
- Headquarters RAF Music Services
- Band of the RAF College & the RAF Swing Wing (RAF College Cranwell)
- Band of the RAF Regiment & the RAF Shades of Blue
- Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAF College Cranwell)
- Central Band of the RAF & the RAF Squadronaires
- RAF Salon Orchestra
- Reserves Logistics Support Wing
- No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (RAF Cosford)
- No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) (RAF Brize Norton)
- No. 90 Signals Unit (RAF Leeming)
- Headquarters Squadron
- Operational Information Services Wing
- No. 4 (Capability and Innovation) Squadron
- No. 5 (Information Services) Squadron
- No. 6 Cyber Reserve Squadron
- No. 591 Signals Unit
- Tactical Communications Wing
- No. 1 (Engineering Support) Squadron
- No. 2 Field Communications Squadron
- No. 3 Field Communications Squadron
- Intelligence Reserves Wing (RAF Waddington)
- No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- No. 7010 (VR) Photographic Interpretation Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- No. 7630 (VR) Intelligence Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- No. 1 Air Mobility Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
No. 11 Group
No. 11 Group is the newest group formed in the RAF, having only been reformed in late 2018 as a "multi-domain operations group." Air Vice-Marshal Tom Burke CBE was appointed Air Officer Commanding 11 Group in August 2023.
- Headquarters, No. 11 Group, at RAF High Wycombe[56]
- Joint Force Air Component Headquarters, at RAF High Wycombe
- National Air & Space Operations Centre, at RAF High Wycombe
- RAF Spadeadam
- Electronic Warfare Tactics Range[57]
No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group
No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group is the collation of all of the RAF's assets that support operations in the Middle East, such as Op Kipion and Op Shader.
Group Captain Hannah Bishop was appointed Commanding Officer of 83 Expeditionary Air Group and Deputy Air Component Commander, Middle East in November 2023.
- Headquarters, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, at RAF Al Udeid, Qatar[58]
No. 22 Group
No. 22 Group is the direct successor to the Training Group, and so is responsible for RAF training policy and training establishments.
Air Vice-Marshal Ian "Cab" Townsend CBE MA was appointed Air Officer Commanding 22 Group in May 2023.
The group commands the following stations:
- RAF Cosford
- RAF Halton
- RAF Cranwell
- RAF Shawbury
- RAF St Mawgan
- RAF Valley
- RAF Woodvale
- MoD St Athan
- Headquarters, No. 22 Group, at RAF High Wycombe[44]
- Directorate of Ground Training
- RAF Central Training School, at RAF Halton
- Recruit Training Squadron
- Airmens Command Squadron
- Specialist Training Squadron
- International Defence Training (RAF), at RAF Halton
- Defence Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract Training Organisation
- Defence College of Air and Space Operations, at RAF Shawbury[63]
- School of Air Operations Control
- School of Aerospace Battle Management
- RAF Central Training School, at RAF Halton
- Directorate of Flying Training
- Headquarters Central Flying School, at RAF Cranwell
- No. 1 Flying Training School RAF (Tri-Service), at RAF Shawbury[64]
- No. 660 Squadron, Army Air Corps, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[65]
- 705 Naval Air Squadron, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[66]
- No. 202 Squadron RAF, at RAF Valley, (Airbus Jupiter HT1)[67]
- 9th Regiment Army Air Corps (British Army)
- No. 60 Squadron RAF, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[68]
- No. 670 Squadron, Army Air Corps, at RAF Shawbury, (Airbus Juno HT1)[69]
- No. 3 Flying Training School RAF (Tri-Service), at RAF Cranwell[70]
- No. 16 Squadron RAF, at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 45 Squadron RAF, at RAF Cranwell, (Embraer Phenom T1)[71]
- No. 57 Squadron RAF, at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Prefect T1)[72]
- No. 674 Squadron, Army Air Corps, (Grob Prefect T1), at RAF Barkston Heath
- 703 Naval Air Squadron, at RAF Barkston Heath, (Grob Prefect T1)[73]
- No. 4 Flying Training School RAF, at RAF Valley[74]
- No. 4 Squadron RAF, at RAF Valley, (Hawk T2)
- No. 25 Squadron RAF, at RAF Valley, (Hawk T2)[75]
- No. 72 Squadron RAF, at RAF Valley, (Texan T1)[76]
- Central Flying School Advanced Training Unit
- No. 6 Flying Training School RAF, at RAF Cranwell[77]
- No. 115 Squadron RAF, at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)
- University Air Squadrons
- University of Birmingham Air Squadron, at RAF Cosford, (Grob Tutor T1)[78]
- Bristol University Air Squadron, at Colerne Airfield, (Grob Tutor T1)[79]
- Cambridge University Air Squadron, at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)[80]
- East Midlands Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Tutor T1)
- East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron, at Leuchars Station, (Grob Tutor T1)[81]
- Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron, at Glasgow Airport, (Grob Tutor T1)
- Liverpool University Air Squadron, at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)[82]
- University of London Air Squadron, at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)[83]
- Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)[82]
- Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron, at Aldergrove Flying Station, (Grob Tutor T1)[84]
- Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)[85]
- Oxford University Air Squadron, at RAF Benson, (Grob Tutor T1)[86]
- Southampton University Air Squadron, at MoD Boscombe Down, (Grob Tutor T1)
- University of Wales Air Squadron, at MoD St Athan, (Grob Tutor T1)[87]
- Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)
- Air Experience Flights
- No. 1 Air Experience Flight, at MoD St Athan, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 2 Air Experience Flight, at MoD Boscombe Down, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 3 Air Experience Flight, at Colerne Airfield, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 4 Air Experience Flight, at Glasgow Airport, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 5 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 6 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Benson, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 7 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 8 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Cosford, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 9 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 10 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 11 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 12 Air Experience Flight, at RAF Leuchars, (Grob Tutor T1)
- No. 13 Air Experience Flight, at Aldergrove Flying Station, (Grob Tutor T1)
- Defence College of Technical Training, at MoD Lyneham[88]
- Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering, at RAF Cosford[89]
- RAF Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School
- School of Army Aeronautical Engineering, at MoD Lyneham
- No. 1 School of Technical Training, at RAF Cosford[90]
- No. 238 Squadron
- Aerosystems Training Squadron
- Mechanical Training Squadron
- Trenchard Squadron
- Royal Navy Air Engineering and Survival School, at HMS Sultan[91]
- 764 Initial Training Squadron
- Advanced Training Group
- Common Training Group
- Specialist Training Group
- Training Support Group
- Defence School of Communications and Information Systems, at Blandford Camp[92]
- No. 1 Radio School, at RAF Cosford
- The Aerial Erector School, at RAF Digby
- Training Delivery Squadron
- Training Management Support Squadron
- Academic Accreditation Group
- Royal School of Signals, at Blandford Camp
- 11th (Royal Corps of Signals) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Blandford Camp[93]
- 2 (Catterick) Squadron
- 3 (Harrogate) Squadron
- 4 (Military Training) Squadron
- 5 (Maresfield) Squadron
- 11th (Royal Corps of Signals) Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, at Blandford Camp[93]
- No. 1 Radio School, at RAF Cosford
- Defence School of Electro-Mechanical Engineering, at MoD Lyneham[94]
- No. 4 School of Technical Training, at MoD St Athan[95]
- 8 Training Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at MoD Lyneham[96]
- Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Arms School, at MoD Lyneham
- Defence School of Marine Engineering, at HMS Sultan[97]
- Marine Engineering Department
- Craft Skills Group
- Training Support Organisation
- Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering, at RAF Cosford[89]
- Directorate of RAF Sport
- RAF School of Physical Training, at RAF Cosford
- RAF Sports Board, at RAF Halton
- Royal Air Force College Cranwell
- Headquarters, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, at RAF Cranwell
- Air Training Corps
- Combined Cadet Force (Royal Air Force)
- No. 2 Flying Training School, at RAF Syerston[100]
- Central Gliding School, at RAF Syerston
- No. 614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at RAF Honington, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Kenley Airfield, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at RAF Little Rissington, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Trenchard Lines, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 626 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Predannack Airfield, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 632 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Tern Hill Airfield, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at RAF Little Rissington, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at RAF Syerston, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Topcliffe Airfield, (Grob Viking T1)
- No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, at Kirknewton Airfield, (Grob Viking T1)
- Directorate of Ground Training
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UK Space Command is the joint command for space operations, staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. It provides command and control for all of the UK's space capabilities, including the UK's Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, Skynet and more.[101] The commander of UK Space Command is Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey.[102]
- Headquarters, UK Space Command (RAF High Wycombe)[102]
- UK Space Operations Centre[103]
- 1 Space Operations Squadron[104]
- 2 Space Warning Squadron (RAF Fylingdales)[104]
- UK Space Academy (Defence Academy, Shrivenham)[105]
- UK Space Operations Centre[103]
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