List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy explained

This is a list of aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy, including past and present aircraft operated by the Navy of Australia].

Present

AircraftOriginTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
MH-60 SeahawkASWMH-60R23Operated by 816 Squadron.[1] One was ditched in the Philippine Sea in October 2021.[2]
Eurocopter EC135Training helicopterEC135 T2+15Training aircraft shared with Army

Historic

A

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
AS 350B SquirrelAS 350BA Squirrel France Rotary wing trainer, light utility, communication, survey, search and rescue, aerobatic display helicopter 1984–2017 24 helicopters. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN and the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School
A109E Power ItalyUnited Kingdom Two-crew trainer, general utility helicopter 2007–2012 Four helicopters were leased from Raytheon Australia in 2007. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN
J/5G Autocar United Kingdom Four-seat land-based communications aircraft 1953–1963 Two aircraft. Operated by Nos 723, 724 and 725 Squadrons.
Avro 504L United Kingdom Single-seat fighter-bomber, trainer seaplane 1920–1921 One aircraft. The 504L was operated by the Australian Air Corps in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The aircraft was embarked on and . ANA stood for Australian Naval Aircraft.

B

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
UH-1B IroquoisUH-1C Iroquois United States Search and rescue, training, utility transport helicopter 1964–1989 Seven helicopters. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN. The UH-1H Iroquois were operated by the joint American and Australian Experimental Military Unit. The Iroquois were embarked on board the destroyer .
United States Training, utility helicopter 2012–2019[3] Three helicopter. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN
DHC-8-202Q Dash 8 Canada Twin-engine land-based hydrographic survey aircraft 2009–present One ex-civil aircraft. Operated by the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight RAN
HR.Mk 50 SycamoreHR. Mk 51 Sycamore United Kingdom Sea-air rescue and training helicopter 1953–1961 13 helicopters. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN and 724 Squadron RAN. The Sycamores were embarked on board the aircraft carriers, and .

C

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
MB 326H "Macchi"CAC CA-30 ItalyAustralia Two-seat land-based basic and advanced jet trainer aircraft 1970–1983 Ten aircraft. Operated by No. 724 Squadron RAN
CA-16 Wirraway Australia Two-seat land-based trainer, fighter aircraft 1948–1957 17 ex-RAAF aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN and 724 Squadron RAN
United StatesAustralia Light utility, communication and survey helicopter 1973–2000 Six helicopters. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN. The Kiowas were embarked on board the survey ship

D

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
FAW Mk 20 Sea VenomFAW.Mk 53 Sea Venom United kingdom Two-seat carrier-borne all-weather fighter-bomber aircraft 1956–1973 39 aircraft. Operated by Nos. 723 Squadron RAN, 724 Squadron RAN, 805 Squadron RAN and 808 Squadron RAN. The FAW Mk 21s were on loan from Royal Navy. The Sea Venoms were embarked on the aircraft carrier
DH.82A Tiger Moth United KingdomAustralia Two-seat land-based biplane trainer, instructional aircraft 1948–1958 Three ex-RAAF aircraft. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN
Sea Vampire T. Mk 22Vampire T. Mk 34Vampire T. 34A United KingdomAustralia Two-seat land-based pilot trainer aircraft 1954–1972 13 aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN and 724 Squadron RAN
C-47A DakotaC-47B Dakota United States Twin-engine land-based transport, navigational trainer aircraft 1949–1977 Four aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN, 724 Squadron RAN, 725 Squadron RAN and 851 Squadron RAN

F

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
Fairey IIID United Kingdom Three-seat spotter, reconnaissance seaplane 1921-1929 six aircraft. Six aircraft were operated by RAAF in support of the Royal Australian Navy. Embarked on the survey ship .
T. Mk 2 FireflyFR. Mk IV FireflyAS. Mk 5 FireflyFR Mk 5 FireflyT. Mk 5 FireflyTT Mk 5 FireflyAS Mk 6 FireflyTT Mk 6 Firefly United Kingdom Two-seat carrier-borne fighter, anti-submarine, reconnaissance aircraft 1948–1966 108 aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN, 724 Squadron RAN, 725 Squadron RAN, 816 Squadron RAN, 817 Squadron RAN and 851 Squadron RAN. The Fireflies were embarked on board aircraft carriers and
AS. Mk 1 GannetAS. Mk 4 GannetT. Mk 2 GannetT. Mk 5 Gannet United Kingdom Three-seat carrier-borne anti-submarine aircraft 1955–1967 36 aircraft. Operated by Nos 724 Squadron RAN, 725 Squadron RAN, 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN. The Gannets were embarked on board the aircraft carrier
F-27-500 Friendship Netherlands Twin-engine land-based hydrographic survey aircraft 1992–2019 One ex-civil aircraft. Operated by the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight RAN

H

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
FB.Mk 11 Sea Fury United Kingdom Single-seat carrier-borne fighter-bomber aircraft 1949–1962 101 aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN, 724 Squadron RAN, 725 Squadron RAN, 805 Squadron RAN, 808 Squadron RAN and 850 Squadron RAN. The Sea Furies were embarked on board the aircraft carries and .
748 Series 2 United Kingdom Twin-engine land-based transport, fleet electronic warfare training aircraft 1973–2000 Two aircraft. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN and 851 Squadron RAN

M

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
A-4G SkyhawkTA-4G Skyhawk United StatesSingle-seat carrier-borne light attack, fighter-bomber aircraft 1967–1984 20 aircraft. Operated by Nos 724 Squadron RAN and 805 Squadron RAN. The Skyhawks were embarked on board the aircraft carrier
MRH-90 TaipanMulti Role HelicopterEUTTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter2011-20226 Operated by 808 Squadron. In September 2022, the Australian government ordered 12 MH-60Rs to replace the MRH-90s.[4] [5] The MRH-90 Taipan was withdrawn from Navy service in 2022, a year earlier then its retirement overall in 2023.

S

Aircraft typesVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
S-70B-2 Seahawk United States Anti-submarine, anti-surface, search and rescue helicopter 1988–2017 16 helicopters. Operated by No. 816 Squadron RAN . The Seahawks were embarked on board the s and s. Retired 2017[6]
MH-60R Seahawk Romeos United States Anti-submarine, anti-surface, search and rescue helicopter 2013–present 24 helicopters. Operated by Nos 725 Squadron RAN and 816 Squadron RAN
Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly H03-S United States Air-sea rescue, communications helicopter 1950–1951 Two helicopter on loan from the US Navy. The helicopter was embarked on board the aircraft carrier during the Korean War.
1 Strutter United States Two-seat reconnaissance biplane 1918–1919 Three aircraft. The aircraft were embarked on board the battlecruiser
Baby United States Single-seat scout, bomber seaplane 1917 only One aircraft. Embarked on board the light cruiser in 1917.
Camel 2F1 United Kingdom Single-seat shipboard fighter-scout biplane 1917–1919 Seven aircraft. The Camels were embarked on board the battlecruiser, and the light cruisers and
Pup United Kingdom Single-seat fighter-scout biplane 1917–1918 Three aircraft. The Pups were embarked on board the cruisers and
Type 309 Sea Otter United Kingdom Three or four-seat carrier-borne air-sea rescue amphibian aircraft1948–1953 Three aircraft. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN. The Sea Otters were embarked on the aircraft carrier
Seagull III United Kingdom Three-seat spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft 1925–1936 Nine aircraft. Operated by the RAAF in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The Seagull IIIs were embarked on board the seaplane tender, the cruisers and .
A2 Supermarine Walrus or (Seagull V) Seagull V United Kingdom Three-seat spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft 1935–1947 24 aircraft. Operated by the RAAF in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The aircraft were embarked on board the cruisers,,, and, plus the naval vessels and .
Spitfire Mk VCSpitfire VIII United Kingdom Single-seat land-based trainer, ground instructional aircraft 1947–1952 14 Ex-RAAF aircraft

V

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
OS2U-3 Kingfisher United States Two-seat spotter, reconnaissance seaplane 1948 only One aircraft. One RAAF aircraft was embarked on board the Antarctic exploration vessel in 1948.
United States Two seat land based trainer, ground instructional aircraft 1948–1951 12 ex-RAAF aircraft. See Vultee Vengeance in Australian service

W

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
Widgeon Mk IWidgeon Mk II Australia spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft 1927–1933 Two aircraft. The Widegons were embarked on board the seaplane tender .
Scout AH Mk 1 United Kingdom Survey, utility helicopter 1963–1977 Two helicopters. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN. The Scouts were embarked on board the survey ship
Wessex Mk 31AWessex Mk 31B United Kingdom Carrier-borne anti-submarine, search and rescue, utility transport helicopter 1962–1989 27 helicopter. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN, 725 Squadron RAN, 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN. The Wessex helicopters were embarked on board the aircraft carriers and . Also the replenishment oiler, and the escort maintenance ship .
Sea King Mk 50Sea King Mk 50ASea King Mk 50B United Kingdom Carrier-borne anti-submarine, search and rescue, utility transport helicopter 1974–2011 12 helicopters. Operated by No. 817 Squadron RAN. The Sea kings were embarked on board the aircraft carrier . Also the two ships, and the escort maintenance ship, and the replenishment oiler and the heavy landing ship .

Civilian aircraft operating under contract

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
AW139 Search and rescue helicopter 2017- One helicopter operated by CHC Helicopters
Alpha Jet A France/Germany 2017-2019 Three aircraft were operated by Air Affairs/Top Aces
1124 Westwind, 1124A Westland II Israel Target tug aircraft Operated by Pel-Air based at .
Learjet 35, Learjet 36 United States Support aircraft aircraft Operated by Pel-Air based at .

Drones/RAV

Present

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
United States Operated by No. 822X Squadron RAN
Austria Operated by No. 822X Squadron RAN

Historic

Aircraft typeVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
MQM-107E Kalkara United States / Australia Remotely-controlled high-performance target drone 1998–2008 21 aircraft
Jindivik Mk 203AJindivik Mk 203B Australia Remotely-controlled high-performance target drone 1966–2000 42 aircraft
Turana Australia target drone 1971–1979 23 aircraft
KD2R-5 Shelduck United States target drone 1963–1973

List of guided missiles of the Royal Australian Navy

Current

ModelVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
AGM-114BAMG-114KANG-114N United States Air-to-surface missile 2014–present Carried by the HM-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
United States Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo Present Carried by the S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters
United States Heavyweight anti-submarine, anti-ship torpedo 1980–present Carried by the s.
United States Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo 2013–present Carried by the HR-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
France / Italy Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo 2008–present Carried by the s and s.
UGM-84C United States Surface-to-surface ant-ship cruise missile 1981-Present Currently carried on board the s, s and the s
United States Medium-range surface-to-air missile 1975–present Currently carried on board the s and s.
United States Medium-range surface-to-air missile 2003–present Currently carried on board the s, s and s

Historic

ModelVariantsOriginRoleService periodNotes
AIM-9B United States Short-range air-to-air missile Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the A-4G Skyhawk aircraft
AGM-114BAGM-114KAGM-114N United States Air-to-surface anti-ship missile 2014–present Carried by the MH-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
AGM-119B Penguin Mk 2 mod 7 Norway Air-to-surface anti-ship missile 2004–2008 Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters
Australia Surface-to-surface anti-submarine missile 1963– Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. The Ikara was carried on board the s and s
United States Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo 1966– Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the Sea King Mk 50 and Mk 50A Helicopters. Also carried by the Ikara anti-submarine missile.
United States Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo Present Carried by the S-70B-2 Seahawk, Sea King Mk 50 and Mk 50A helicopters, also by the s
United States Heavyweight anti-submarine, anti-ship torpedo 1980–present Carried by the s.
United States Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo 2013–present Carried by the RH-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
France / Italy Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo 2008–present
United States Surface-to-surface anti-ship cruise missile 1981-Present The Harpoon was carried on board the s
RIM-7P United States Short-range surface-to-air missile 1998– The Sea Sparrows were carried on board the s
United States Medium-range surface-to-air missile 1966–1987 Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. The Tartars were carried on board the s
RIM-66B United States Medium-range surface-to-air missile 1975–present The RIM-66 Standard was part of the armament of the s
United States Medium-range surface-to-air missile 2003–present Carried by the Adelaide-class frigates, Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers.
United Kingdom Short-range surface-to-air missile 1964–1998 Obsolete, on longer in service with Royal Australian Navy. The Seacats were carried on board the s, and the Daring-class destroyer .

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MH-60R Seahawk. Royal Australian Navy. 11 October 2021. 11 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011111629/https://www.navy.gov.au/aircraft/mh-60r-seahawk. live.
  2. Three aircrew safe after helicopter ditched in the Philippine Sea . Department of Defence . 9 January 2022 . 14 October 2021 . 21 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021104624/https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/three-aircrew-safe-after-helicopter-ditched-philippine-sea . live .
  3. Web site: navaltoday . 2019-02-28 . Australian Navy farewells final Bell 429 helicopter . 2024-04-28 . Naval Today . en-US.
  4. Lockheed Martin to produce 12 more MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy . Lockheed Martin . 5 October 2022 . 20 September 2022.
  5. News: Lockheed Martin contracted for additional MH-60Rs for Australia . Australian Defence Business Review . 5 October 2022 . 30 August 2022.
  6. Web site: RAN retires S-70B-2, AS350BA helicopters | Jane's 360 . www.janes.com . 2 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20171204181333/http://www.janes.com/article/76113/ran-retires-s-70b-2-as350ba-helicopters . 4 December 2017 . dead.