200807 FAA Supplement

The Fleet Air Arm

Sea King ASaC7

Lynx HMA8

Type: Airborne Surveillance and Control Entered service: 2002 Length: 22.15 metres Height: 4.9 metres Rotor diameter: 18.9 metres Max speed: 138 mph (120 knots) Range: 374 miles (325nm) Endurance: 3.5 hours Engines: Two 1,600shp Rolls-Royce Gnome H1400 gas turbines Crew: 1 pilot and 2 observers Based at: RNAS Culdrose Squadrons: 849 NAS, 854 NAS and 857 NAS Background: The existing Sea King AEW Mk2 (Airborne Early Warning) helicopters were upgraded with the Searchwater 2000, a state-of-the-art long-range radar system which can track up to 400 targets, to become the ASaC Mk7.

Photo: An 849 Sea King ASaC7 on the deck of HMS Illustrious Photographer: LA(Phot) Darby Allen

Type: Helicopter Maritime Attack Length: 15.24 metres Height: 3.67 metres Rotor diameter: 12.80 metres Max speed: 201 mph (175 knots) Operational range: 328 miles (285nm) (standard tanks) Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Gem turboshafts Armament: Sea Skua anti-surface missile; Sting Ray torpedo; depth charges; M3M heavy machine gun Crew: 2-3 Based at: RNAS Yeovilton Squadrons: 702 NAS, 815 NAS Background: The Lynx HMA8 is the upgraded maritime attack version of the Lynx HAS3 with an improved avionics and communications fit.

It is equipped with a computerised Central Tactical System (CTS) which allows the crew to manage highly complex tactical situations; and a Passive Identification Device (PID) which is a long-range infra-red camera.

Photograph: A performance by a Lynx HMA8 of the Black Cats helicopter display team Photographer: PO(Phot) Terry Seward

Jetstream T2/3

Type: Fixed-wing training aircraft (T2) and support aircraft (T3) Engines: Two 940hp Turbomeca Astazou 16D turboprops (T2) or Garrett TPE331 engines (T3) Max speed: 246mph (214 knots) Service ceiling: 25,000 feet (T2), 27,000 feet (T3) Crew: minimum 2 Endurance: 4 hours Range: 1,000 miles Squadron: 750 NAS at Culdrose (T2) Based at: RNAS Yeovilton and Culdrose The T2 is used to train observers for the FAA and the T3 (based at Yeovilton) in operational support

Grob G115D2

Type: Two-seat, single-engine fixed-wing aircraft Max speed: 213mph (185 knots) Used to grade young Royal Navy and Royal Marine officers for further training with the FAA Squadron: 727 NAS Training aircraft also include the Squirrel HT1, single-engine light training helicopter, used by 705 NAS; and Slingsby Firefly T67, light training fixed-wing aircraft, used by 703 NAS

Hawk T1

Type: Fixed-wing aircraft Max speed: Mach 1.2 (or 660mph at low level) Used for training for Harrier pilots, and

by FRADU, Fleet Requirements Air Direction Unit.

FRADU is operated by Serco Defence and Aerospace, using 14 Hawk T1 on lease to the Royal Navy from the RAF, based at RNAS Culdrose.

Two of these aircraft are permanently detached to Naval Flying Standards Flight (fixed wing) at RNAS Yeovilton where they are flown by RN pilots.

FRADU is capable of launching three waves of six aircraft a day in a wide variety of roles. These include; coordinated simulated ship attacks, Fighter Controller training, AEW exercises, and helicopter fighter affiliation training

Sea King HU5

Type: Search and Rescue helicopter Length: 22.15 metres Height: 4.9 metres Rotor diameter: 18.9 metres Max speed: 144mph (125 knots) Endurance: 5 hours flying time under normal conditions Engines: Two 1,600shp Rolls-Royce Gnome H1400 gas turbines Crew: 3-4 Squadrons: 771 NAS at RNAS Culdrose and HMS Gannet at Prestwick, Scotland Background: In 2007, Gannet proved itself the busiest Search and Rescue unit in the UK by smashing all previous records; a trend that is likely to continue in 2008 Photo: A Sea King HU5 winches an RM officer from a boat Photographer: LA(Phot) JJ Massey

Photograph: A fixed-wing sortie over RNAS Yeovilton Photographer: CPO(Phot) Kev Preece

Lynx HA

Type: Helicopter An Length: 15.24 metr Height: 3.67 metres Rotor diameter: 12.

Max speed: 201 mp Operational range: (standard tanks) Engines: Two Rolls turboshafts Crew: 2-3 Based at: RNAS Ye Squadrons: 702 NA The less sophistica the Lynx HMA8.

Photograph: Lynx H land on RFA Argus Photographer: PO(P

NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 2007

AS3

Sea King HC4/4+

nti Submarine res s .80 metres ph (175 knots) 328 miles (285nm)

Type: Helicopter Commando, known as a ‘Jungly’ Length: 22.15 metres Rotor diameter: 18.9 metres Max speed: 143mph (125 knots) Range: 750 miles (651nm) Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Gnome 1400-1 Turboshafts Armament: can carry GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) Load: 27 fully equipped troops Crew: 3 Squadrons: 845 NAS, 846 NAS and 848 NAS within the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) Based at: RNAS Yeovilton These helicopters, along with the Lynx AH7 used by 847 NAS, make up the Commando Helicopter Force to support the actions of the Royal Marines and other ground troops in operational theatres around the world.

The HC4+ is an upgraded version of the commando helicopter HC4 for use in extreme conditions, such as the arid, high and cold conditions of Afghanistan.

Photograph: A CHF ‘jungly’ Sea King HC4+ lands amid the swirling dust of Afghanistan Photographer: Cpl S Dove AGC (Army)

s-Royce Gem

eovilton AS, 815 NAS ated older sibling of

HAS3 of 702 NAS s Phot) Mark Hipkin

Merlin HM1

Lynx AH7

Type: Army Helicopter Entered service: Length: 13.4 metres Height: 3.5 metres Crew: 2-3 Rotor diameter: 12.80 metres Rotor: four blade, semi-rigid Max speed: 207 mph (180 knots) Operational range: 230 miles (standard tanks) Powerplant: Two Rolls-Royce Gem turboshafts Armament: one General Purpose Machine Gun Squadron: 847 NAS within the Commando Helicopter Force Based at: RNAS Yeovilton The ‘jungly’ Lynx of CHF is an Army asset flown by RN and RM aviators of the FAA. Photograph: A Lynx AH7 training in the mountains of France Photographer: LA(Phot) Billy Bunting

Type: Maritime Patrol Helicopter Entered service: December 1998 Length: 22.8 metres Rotor width: 18.6 metres Max speed: 192mph (167 knots) Operational radius: 230 miles (200nm) Engines: Three Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 gas turbines Armament: can carry four Sting Ray torpedoes, Mk 11 Mod 3 depth charges; can mount GPMG (general purpose machine guns) Crew: 3 Squadrons: 814 NAS, 820 NAS, 824 NAS and 829 NAS Based at: RNAS Culdrose

Photograph: A Merlin HM1 flies past HMS Sutherland Photographer: LA(Phot) Brett Turner

Harrier GR7/9

Type: Strike jet fixed-wing STOVL (short take-off, vertical-landing) aircraft Length: 14.12 metres Wingspan: 9.25 metres Height: 3.56 metres Crew: 1 Max speed: 662mph (Mach 0.87) Operational radius: 346 miles (300nm) Service ceiling: 15,000 metres Powerplant: one Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 105 turbofan, or upgraded to a Mk 107 Squadrons: Naval Strike Wing encompassing elements of 800 NAS and 801 NAS Based at: RAF Wittering and RAF Cottesmore In 2006 the last Sea Harriers retired from service with the Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm’s jet expertise transferred into the Joint Force Harrier.

Variants of the RAF Harrier include GR7, GR7a, GR9 and GR9a dependent on avionics, weapons and engines upgrades.

The Harriers are used by all three squadrons of the JFH: 1(F)Sqn and IV(AC)Sqn and the Naval Strike Wing; and the training squadron 20(R) which is made up of personnel from both Services Photograph: An 800 NAS Harrier flies during Op Aquila Photographer: SAC Travis (RAF)