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

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
MH-60 Seahawk		ASW	MH-60R	23	Operated by 816 Squadron.^[1] One was ditched in the Philippine Sea in October 2021.^[2]
Eurocopter EC135		Training helicopter	EC135 T2+	15	Training aircraft shared with Army

Historic

A

Aircraft type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	A-4G SkyhawkTA-4G Skyhawk	United States	Single-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 Taipan	Multi Role Helicopter	EU	TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter	2011-2022	6 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 types	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 aircraft	1948–1953	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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 type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
		United States			Operated by No. 822X Squadron RAN
		Austria			Operated by No. 822X Squadron RAN

Historic

Aircraft type	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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

Model	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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

Model	Variants	Origin	Role	Service period	Notes
	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

• List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force
• List of Australian Army aircraft

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.