Fleet Air Arm

Fleet Air Arm
Founded	1914 (As the Royal Naval Air Service) 1924 (as the naval branch of the Royal Air Force) 1937 (as part of Naval Service)
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Size	5,000 personnel c. 160 aircraft[1]
Part of	Naval Service
Engagements	Second World War Korean War Operation Musketeer (Suez Crisis) Falklands War Gulf War Bosnia Afghanistan War Iraq War
Website	www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/fleet-air-arm
Commanders
Commodore-in-Chief	The Princess of Wales
Commodore Fleet Air Arm	Commodore Nicholas M. Walker[2][3]
Insignia
White Ensign
Roundels
Fin flashes
Aircraft flown
Attack	Wildcat HMA2
Fighter	F-35B Lightning II
Patrol	Merlin HM2 Wildcat HMA2
Reconnaissance	AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma[4] Commando Wildcat AH1
Trainer	Avenger T1 Prefect T1 Tutor T1 Juno HT1[5] Jupiter HT1[6]
Transport	Commando Merlin HC4/4A

His Majesty's Naval Service of the British Armed Forces
Components
Royal Navy Surface Fleet Fleet Air Arm Submarine Service Royal Naval Reserve Royal Navy Medical Service Nursing Service (QARNNS) Chaplaincy Royal Navy Police Royal Marines Royal Marines Reserve Royal Marines Band Service Equipment Uniforms Special Forces Special Boat Service Naval Careers Service
History and future
before 1707 / after 1707 / future History of the Royal Marines Coloured squadrons Customs and traditions Flag officer command flags
Ships
Current fleet Current deployments Historic ships
Personnel
The Admiralty Senior officers Uniforms Officer / ratings rank insignia
Auxiliary services
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Marine Services
v t e

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms.^[7] As of 2023^[update] it is a predominantly "rotary" force, with helicopters undertaking roles once performed by biplanes such as the Fairey Swordfish.^{[8][failed verification]} It operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike and the AW159 Wildcat and AW101 Merlin for commando and anti-submarine warfare.

The RAF was formed by the 1918 merger of the RN's Royal Naval Air Service with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps. The FAA did not come under the direct control of the Admiralty until mid-1939. During the Second World War, the FAA operated aircraft on ships as well as land-based aircraft that defended the Royal Navy's shore establishments and facilities.