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This is the structure of the Royal Air Force .
Air Command [ edit ]
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.
No. 1 Group [ edit ]
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
RAF Leeming
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Marham
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 reforming at Lossiemouth in 2024 with E-7A Wedgetail [25]
No. 13 Squadron RAF , (MQ-9 Reaper )[26]
No. 14 Squadron RAF , (Shadow R1 )[27]
No. 39 Squadron RAF , (MQ-9 Reaper)[26]
No. 51 Squadron RAF , (RC-135W Airseeker )[22] [28]
No. 54 Squadron RAF , at RAF Waddington
Detachment, at RAF Lossiemouth (with Poseidon MRA1)[29]
No. 120 Squadron RAF , (Poseidon MRA1 ),[30] at RAF Lossiemouth
No. 201 Squadron with 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 RAF , at RAF Waddington[33]
No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron RAF
No. 2 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron RAF
No. 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron RAF
No. 54 Signals Unit RAF
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Support Squadron RAF
Air and Space Warfare Centre [ edit ]
Air and Space Warfare Centre , at RAF Waddington[34]
Development Division
Operational Analysis Element
Integrated Mission Support
Operations Support Division
Flying Division
Operations Division
No. 92 Squadron RAF , at RAF Waddington[40]
Command and Battlespace Management (Air) Working Group
Information Operations Group
Test and Evaluation Division
No. 2 Group [ edit ]
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 [ edit ]
Air Mobility Force [ edit ]
Air Security Force [ edit ]
Headquarters Air Security Force (RAF Honington )
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
Specialist Investigation Branch (RAF Halton )
Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team (RAF College Cranwell )
Engagement Team (RAF College Cranwell)
Serious Crime Flight (A Flight)
Serious Crime Flight (B Flight) (RAF College Cranwell)
No. 2 RAF Police & Security Wing (RAF Waddington )
No. 3 RAF Police & Security Wing (RAF Brize Norton)
Headquarters No. 3 RAF Police & Security Wing
No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment
No. 7 RAF Police (Air Mobility) Squadron
No. 2624 (County of Oxford) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) Regiment
Battlespace Management & Space Security Squadron
Battlespace Management Force [ edit ]
Combat and Readiness Force [ edit ]
Headquarters Combat and Readiness Force (RAF Honington)
RAF Medical Services [ edit ]
Support Force [ edit ]
No. 11 Group [ edit ]
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.
No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group [ edit ]
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.
No. 22 Group [ edit ]
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 Linton-on-Ouse
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
Directorate of Flying Training
Headquarters Central Flying School , at RAF Cranwell
No. 1 Flying Training School RAF (Tri-Service) , at RAF Shawbury[59]
No. 3 Flying Training School RAF (Tri-Service) , at RAF Cranwell[65]
No. 16 Squadron RAF , at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1 )
No. 45 Squadron RAF , at RAF Cranwell, (Embraer Phenom T1 )[66]
No. 57 Squadron RAF , at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Prefect T1 )[67]
No. 674 Squadron , Army Air Corps, (Grob Prefect T1), at RAF Barkston Heath
703 Naval Air Squadron , at RAF Barkston Heath, (Grob Prefect T1)[68]
No. 4 Flying Training School RAF , at RAF Valley[69]
No. 6 Flying Training School RAF , at RAF Cranwell[72]
No. 115 Squadron RAF , at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)
University Air Squadrons
University of Birmingham Air Squadron , at RAF Cosford, (Grob Tutor T1)[73]
Bristol University Air Squadron, at Colerne Airfield , (Grob Tutor T1)[74]
Cambridge University Air Squadron , at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)[75]
East Midlands Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Tutor T1)
East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron , at Leuchars Station , (Grob Tutor T1)[76]
Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron , at Glasgow Airport , (Grob Tutor T1)
Liverpool University Air Squadron , at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)[77]
University of London Air Squadron , at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)[78]
Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)[77]
Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron, at JHFS Aldergrove , (Grob Tutor T1)[79]
Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron , at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)[80]
Oxford University Air Squadron , at RAF Benson , (Grob Tutor T1)[81]
Southampton University Air Squadron , at MoD Boscombe Down , (Grob Tutor T1)
University of Wales Air Squadron, at MoD St Athan, (Grob Tutor T1)[82]
Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, (Grob Tutor T1)[83]
Air Experience Flights
No. 1 Air Experience Flight RAF , at MoD St Athan, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 2 Air Experience Flight RAF , at MoD Boscombe Down, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 3 Air Experience Flight RAF , at Colerne Airfield, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 4 Air Experience Flight RAF , at Glasgow Airport, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Wittering, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Benson, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 7 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Cranwell, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Cosford, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 9 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 10 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Woodvale, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 11 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Leeming, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF , at RAF Leuchars, (Grob Tutor T1)
No. 13 Air Experience Flight RAF , at JHFS Aldergrove, (Grob Tutor T1)
Defence College of Technical Training , at MoD Lyneham [84]
Directorate of RAF Sport
RAF School of Physical Training, at RAF Cosford
RAF Sports Board, at RAF Halton
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit[94] Cranwell intakes usually take place at ten week intervals throughout the year.[95]
Headquarters, Royal Air Force Air Cadets , at RAF Cranwell
No. 2 Flying Training School RAF , at RAF Syerston [96]
Central Gliding School , at RAF Syerston
No. 614 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF , at RAF Honington, (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Kenley Airfield , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF , at RAF Little Rissington , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Trenchard Lines , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 626 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Predannack Airfield , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 632 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Tern Hill Airfield , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at RAF Little Rissington , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at RAF Syerston, (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Topcliffe Airfield , (Grob Viking T1 )
No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF, at Kirknewton Airfield , (Grob Viking T1 )
References [ edit ]
formations and units
branches and components reserve forces equipment personnel appointments symbols and uniform associated civil organisations