Structure of the RAF in 2020

The Royal Air Force is organised into groups, which are roughly equivalent to brigades in terms of size. The RAF currently, as of Jul 2020, is organised into six groups (2 flying, 2 support, 1 training, and one expeditionary). Within these groups are multiple 'Forces' which each contain several squadrons, stations, and wings.

• Air Staff
  • No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF (Supporting RAF Headquarters and Permanent Joint Headquarters)[1]
  • No. 601 (County of London) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Northolt (Supporting the Air Staff)[1]

No. 1 Group

No.1 (Air Combat) Group RAF is headquartered at RAF High Wycombe, it controls all of the RAF's front-line, fast-jet force elements and Intelligence Surveillance, Targeting, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) work.[2]

• RAF Coningsby
  • Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
  • Typhoon Display Team
• RAF Lossiemouth
  • Tain Air Weapons Range
• RAF Marham
• RAF Waddington
  • RAF Waddington Voluntary Band (Reserve)
  • No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing
    • No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
    • No. 2 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
    • No. 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron
    • No. 54 Signals Unit RAF
    • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Support Squadron

Lightning Force Graphic in July 2020.

Lightning Force

• Lightning Force, HQ at RAF Marham commands all F-35B equipped squadrons in the RAF and FAA
  • No. 17 Squadron RAF, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, United States of America (Test and Evaluation)
  • No. XVII Squadron RAF, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, United States of America (Test and Evaluation)
  • No. 207 Squadron RAF, at RAF Marham (Operational Conversion Init)
  • No. 617 Squadron RAF "The Dambusters", at RAF Marham equipped with F-35B
• No. 3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Marham (Tasked with protecting the Lightning Force)
  • No. 15 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Honington
  • No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Marham (Reserve)
  • No. 6 Police Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Marham

Typhoon Force

• Typhoon Force, HQ at RAF Lossiemouth commands all Eurofighter Typhoon equipped squadrons
  • No. IX (B) Squadron RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 (Ground support)
  • Joint British-Qatari Typhoon Squadron (No.12 Squadron RAF), at RAF Coningsby (training began in 2020 for Qatar Air Force)
  • No. 41 Squadron RAF equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 (Evaluation and operational tactics)
  • No. 100 Squadron RAF, at RAF Leeming equipped with Hawk T.1 (advanced air combat training)
  • Quick Reaction Alert (North), HQ at RAF Lossiemouth
    • No. 1 (F) Squadron RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
    • No. II (AC) Squadron RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
    • No. 6 Squadron RAF, at RAF Lossiemouth equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
    • No. CXX Squadron RAF at Kinloss Barracks (temporary)[3] equipped with Poseidon MRA1
    • No. 5 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Lossiemouth (Tasked with protecting the Quick Reaction Alert (North))
      • No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Lossiemouth
      • No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Lossiemouth[1]
      • No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Lossiemouth (only RAF squadron to have a Pipes and Drums)
      • No. 4 Police Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Lossiemouth
  • Quick Reaction Alert (South), HQ at RAF Coningsby
    • No. 3 (F) Squadron RAF, at RAF Coningsby equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
    • No. XI (F) Squadron RAF, at RAF Coningsby equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
    • No. 29 Squadron RAF, at RAF Coningsby equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 (Operational conversion unit)
    • No. 7 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Honington (Tasked with protecting the Quick Reaction Alert (South))
      • No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment (The Queen's Colour Squadron), at RAF Northolt
      • No. 2623 (East Anglian) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Honington (Reserve)
      • Air–Land Integration Cell

ISTAR Force

• ISTAR Force, HQ at RAF Waddington commands all ISTAR squadrons
  • No. V (AC) Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with Sentinel R1
  • No. 8 Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with Sentry AEW1 E3D
  • No. 13 Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with MQ-9A Reaper
  • No. 14 Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with Shadow R1
  • No. 39 Squadron RAF, at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, United States of America equipped with MQ-9A Reaper
  • No. 51 Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with RC-135W Rivet Joint
  • No. 54 Squadron RAF, at RAF Waddington equipped with Sentinel R1, Sentry AEW1 E3D, MQ-9A Reaper, and Shadow R1 (Crew training)
  • No. 56 Squadron RAF equipped with Sentry AEW1 E3D and Sentinel R1 (Development capabilities)[1]
  • No. 8 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Waddington (Tasked with protecting ISTAR Force)
    • No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Honington
    • No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Waddington (Reserve)
    • No. 5 Police Squadron RAF

No. 2 Group

No. 2 Group RAF (Air Combat Support) maintains the RAF's air mobiliy, force protection, and battlespace management forces.[4]

• RAF Benson
  • No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF
  • RAF Benson Flying Club
• RAF Brize Norton
  • Tactical Medical Wing
  • Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit
  • RAF Falcons
  • RAF Keevil
  • Airborne Delivery Wing
    • Headquarters and Operations Squadron
    • Parachute Training Squadron
    • Performance Development Squadron
    • Parachute Engineering Squadron
    • Support Squadron
• RAF Odiham
• RAF Northolt
  • No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit
  • Air Historical Branch
• RAF Henlow
  • Specialist and Security Police Wing
  • Defence Flying Complaints
  • Provost Marshal's Dog Inspectorate
  • Digital Forensic Flight
  • RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
  • Defence Cultural Specialist Unit
  • Joint Arms Control Implementation Group
  • Service Complaints Investigation Team
  • HQ RAF Police Professional Standards Department
  • Support Chain Information Services
• RAF Honington
  • No. 3 Tactical Police Squadron RAuxAF
  • Regional Rehabilitation Unit
  • RAF Honington Voluntary Band
  • Specialist and Security Police Wing
• RAF Wyton
  • Defence Infrastructure Organisation
  • Defence Assurance and Information Security
  • Defence Intelligence Estates Rationalisation Team
  • RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band

Air Mobility Force

• No. 7 Squadron RAF, at RAF Odiham equipped with Boeing Chinook (Medium Transport)
• No. 10 Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton equipped with Airbus Voyager (Air-to-Air refuelling)
• No. 18 (Burma) Squadron RAF, at RAF Odiham equipped with Boeing Chinook (Medium Transport)[1]
• No. XXIV (Commonwealth) Squadron RAF equipped with A400M Atlas C.1, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and Hercules C-130J (Air Mobility Force Training)[1]
• No. 27 Squadron RAF, at RAF Odiham equipped with Boeing Chinook (Air Mobility/Medium Transport)
• No. 28 Squadron RAF equipped with Puma HC2 and Boeing Chinook (Training Squadron)
• No. 32 Squadron RAF, at RAF Northolt equipped with A109S Grand and BAE 146 (RAF Command's Air Transport)
• No. 33 Squadron RAF, at RAF Benson equipped with Puma HC2 (Light Transport/Air Mobility)
• No. 47 Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton equipped with Hercules C-130J (Medium transport)
• No. LXX Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton equipped with A400M Atlas C.1 (Strategic Air Transport)
• No. 99 (Madras Province) Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton equipped with Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (Heavy transport)[1]
• No. 101 Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton equipped with Airbus Voyager (Air-to-Air refuelling for UK Quick Reaction Alert Force)
• No. 206 Squadron RAF equipped with Hercules C-130J and A400M Atlas C.1 (Air Mobility Force Training)
• No. 230 Squadron RAF, at RAF Benson equipped with Puma HC2 (Light Transport/Air Mobility)[1]
• No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron RAuxAF (Logistics Support)[1]
• No. 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron RAuxAF (Specialised air transport support)
• No. 4 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton (Tasked with protecting the Air Mobility Force)
  • No. II Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton
  • No. 2624 (County of Oxfordshire) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Brize Norton (Reserve)
  • No. 7 Police Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Brize Norton

Force Protection

• RAF Force Protection Force Headquarters, at RAF Honington (Administered all RAF regiment squadrons and Force protection units)
• HQ RAF Police Professional Standards Department, at RAF Honington
• RAF Force Protection Centre, at RAF Honington
• RAF Regiment Training Wing
• No. 20 CBRN Wing, at RAF Honington
  • No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Honington (CRBN Specialists)

No. 11 Group

No. 11 Group combines the capabilities of the COS Ops AO with the Air Battle Staff, comprising the deployable Joint Force Air Component (JFAC), the National Air & Space Operations Centre (NASOC) and the Executive Team.  It also incorporates the BM Force, providing the building blocks for the generation of a powerful non-kinetic effects capability. The nature of warfare is evolving constantly and Air Command must adapt and be able to conduct operations across multiple environments or domains, particularly Air, Space and Cyber. The huge amount of data that we collect must be applied with a focused and integrated approach, where intelligence and information activity is incorporated into the planning and execution of operations across the domains.[5]

Battlespace Management Force

• RAF Spadeadam (electronic warfare tactics centre)
• RAF Scampton
  • The Red Arrows
  • No. 1 Air Control Centre
  • Mobile Meteorological Unit
• RAF Boulmer
  • Battle Manageement Operations
  • ASACS Business Management
  • Control and Reporting Centre
  • Support Wing
  • School of Aerospace Battle Management
  • ASACS Engineering and Logistics Squadron
  • RRH Benbecula
  • RRH Staxton Wold
  • RRH Saxa Vord
  • RRH Portreath
  • RRH Neatishead
  • RRH Brizlee Wood
  • RRH Buchan
• RAF Fylingdales (ballistic missiles early warning radar station)

No. 22 Group

No. 22 Group provides the qualified and skilled personnel that the RAF and the other two Services need to carry out operations world-wide. 22 Group has a wide area of interest with responsibilities for many aspects of training.[6]

Directorate of Ground Training

• Air Warfare Centre
  • No. 92 (East India) Squadron RAF (Tactics and Training Squadron)[1]
  • Development Division
  • Operations Division
  • Operations Support Division
  • Operational Analysis Element
  • Flying Division
  • Test and Evaluation Division
• MoD St Athan
  • No. 4 School of Technical Training
  • RAF St Athan Voluntary Band
• RAF St Mawgan
  • Defence Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract Training Organisation
  • Plymouth and Cornwall Wing Air Cadets Organisation HQ
• RAF Swanwick
  • Military Airspace Booking and Co-ordination Cell
  • Distress and Diversion Cell
  • Radar Analysis Cell

Directorate of Flying Training

• No. IV Squadron RAF, at RAF Valley equipped with Hawk T.2 (Advanced fast-jet flying training)
• No. 72 (Basutoland) Squadron RAF, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse equipped with Beechcraft T-6 Texan II (Advanced flying training)[1]
• No. 115 Squadron RAF, at RAF Wittering equipped with Grob Tutor T.1 (Pilot instructor training)
• No. 6 Flying Training School (controls and manages the RAF university air squadrons)
  • University of Birmingham Air Squadron, at RAF Cosford
  • Bristol University Air Squadron, at RAF Colerne
  • Cambridge University Air Squadron, at RAF Wittering
  • East Midlands Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Cranwell
  • East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron, at Leuchars Station
  • University of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron, at Glasgow Airport
  • Liverpool University Air Squadron, at RAF Woodvale
  • University of London Air Squadron, at RAF Wyton
  • Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Woodvale
  • Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron, at Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove
  • Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Leeming
  • Oxford University Air Squadron, at RAF Benson
  • Southampton University Air Squadron, at MoD Boscombe Down
  • Universities of Wales Air Squadron, at MoD St Athan
  • Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
• Defence Helicopter Flying Training School, at RAF Shawbury
  • No. 60 Squadron RAF, at RAF Shawbury (Multi-crew and advanced flying techniques)
  • No. 202 Squadron RAF equipped with Bell Griffin HAR2 (Search and Rescue Training)
• RAF Shawbury
  • Defence Helicopter Flying School
  • Central Flying School (Helicopter)
  • School of Air Operations Control
  • Air Maintenance and Storage Unit
  • Air Traffic Management Standards and Evaluation
  • Chetwynd Airfield
  • Ternhill Airfield
• RAF Syerston
  • RAF Kirknewton
    • No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
  • RAF Little Rissington
    • No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
  • RAF Topcliffe
    • No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
  • RAF Kenley
    • No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
  • No. 2 Flying Training School (provides flying training to the RAF Air Cadets through Volunteer Gliding Squadrons)
    • Central Gliding School
    • Central Flying School
    • No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
• RAF Valley
  • No. 4 Flying Training School (provides BFT and OCUs)
    • No. XXV (F) Squadron RAF equipped with BAE Systems Hawk T.2 (Advanced Fast Jet Flying Training)
  • HQ Mountain Rescue Service
  • RAF Mona
• RAF Woodvale
  • No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAuxAF (Provide support in flight operations, intelligence, ground engineering, logistics, personnel & training, media and chaplaincy services to augment UK Main Operating Bases and units deployed on operations.)

Defence College of Technical Training

• RAF Cosford
  • RAF School of Physical Training
  • Defence School of Photography
  • No. 1 School of Technical Training
  • No. 1 Radio School
  • Robson Academy of Resilience
  • Headquarters Defence School of Engineering
  • RAF Cosford Voluntary Band
  • Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School

Royal Air Force College

• Royal Air Force College Cranwell
  • No. 45 Squadron RAF
  • Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit
  • Recruiting and Selection Team
  • Central Flying School
  • Tedder Academy
  • HQ Air Cadets
  • RAF Disclosures
  • Band of the Royal Air Force College
  • Royal Auxiliary Air Force Band
  • Air Warfare School
  • RAF Barkston Heath
  • No. 3 Flying Training School, at RAF Cranwell (delivers EFT & MEPT)
    • No. 16 (Reserve) Squadron RAF, at RAF Wittering equipped with Grob Tutor T.1 (Initial Pilot Training)
    • No. 45 (Reserve) Squadron RAF, at RAF Cranwell – Pilots and Rear Crew Training (MEPT)
    • No. LVII (Reserve) Squadron RAF, at RAF Cranwell equipped with Grob Tutor T.1 (Elementary flying training)
• RAF Halton
  • Airmens Command Squadron
  • Recruit Training Squadron
  • Specialist Training Squadron
  • Defence Centre of Training Support
  • Force Development Training Centre
  • Joint Information Activities Group
  • Logistics Specialist Training Wing
  • Stress Management and Resilience Training Team
  • RAF Halton Voluntary Band

No. 38 Group

No. 38 Group comprises engineering and logistics, communications and Medical Operations Force Elements, in addition to units such as RAF Music Services. Air Officer Commanding Number 38 Group has responsibility for UK-based United States Visiting Forces (USVF) units and for RAF personnel detached to other armed forces around the world. Overall, the Group employs around 2600 Service personnel and 310 MoD civilians across multiple Defence sites in the United Kingdom and deployed locations worldwide.[7]

• No. 38 Group, at RAF High Wycombe
  • RAF High Wycombe
    • Headquarters Air Command RAF
    • Headquarters European Air Group
    • RAF Safety Centre
  • RAF Leeming
    • No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron RAuxAF (RAF Reserve Training Unit)
    • Operational Training Centre
    • Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standardisation Unit

Communications Force

• Communications Force
  • No. 90 Signals Unit RAF, at RAF Leeming and RAF Digby
    • Tactical Communications Wing (Expeditionary Communications Systems)
    • No. 2 Field Communications Squadron (Provides RAF and Joint community communications)
    • No. 3 Field Communications Squadron (Provides RAF and Joint community communications)
    • No. 4 Field Communications Squadron (Provides RAF and Joint community communications)
    • No. 5 Information Services Squadron (Responsible for Building, Configuring, and supporting the deployable information systems)
    • No. 1 Engineering Support Squadron
    • Operational Information Services Wing (Defensive Cyber, Airfield Navigational Aids Support, Trials)
    • Capability and Innovation Squadron
    • Operations Squadron
    • No. 591 Signals Unit (Cyber Air Combat Service Support Unit), at RAF Digby
  • No. 2 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, at RAF Leeming
    • No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Leeming (Light Armoured)
    • No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Leeming
    • No. 1 Tactical Police Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Honington
  • RAF Digby
    • Joint Service Signals Organisation
    • Aerial Erector School

Engineering Force

• Engineering Force
  • RAF A4 Force, at RAF Wittering
  • RAF Wittering
    • No. 5 Air Experience Flight RAF
    • Grob Tutor Display Team
  • No. 42 Expeditionary Support Wing
    • No. 71 Inspection and Repair Squadron
    • No. 93 Expeditionary Armaments Squadron
    • No. 5001 Squadron
    • No. 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron
    • Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron
  • No. 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing
    • No. 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron
    • No. 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron
    • No. 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
    • No. 501 (County of Gloucester) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Brize Norton (Logistics Support)[1]
    • No. 505 (Wessex) General Support Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF St Mawgan
    • No. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Cranwell (prepares logistics and police personnel for mobilisation in support of the RAF)[1]

Medical Operations Force

• Medical Operations Force
  • No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAuxAF, at Leuchars Station (Medical Support)[1]
  • No. 4626 Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Brize Norton (Aeromedical Evacuation)

Music Services

• RAF Music Services
  • Headquarters Music Services and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force

No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group

The RAF’s operational headquarters in the Middle East. 83 Expeditionary Air Group (EAG) is commanded by an RAF Air Commodore who acts as the Air Component Commander and Air Officer Commanding 83 EAG. He is responsible to the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters for the control and direction of 4 Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) supporting Operations Kipion and Shader as well as the delivery of UK national and Defence objectives across the Middle East. 83 EAG’s area of responsibility extends from the Southern end of the Arabian Gulf to the Eastern Mediterranean, and encompasses numerous relationships and alliances across the region.[8]

• No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group

No. 901 Expeditionary Air Wing

• No. 901 Expeditionary Air Wing
  • Joint Force Support (Middle East) Force Movements Control Centre
  • Joint Force Communication Information Systems
  • Combined Air Operations Centre, at Al Udeid Air Base

No. 902 Expeditionary Air Wing

• No. 902 Expeditionary Air Wing

No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing

• No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, at RAF Akrotiri

No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing

• No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing

Joint Helicopter Command

• Joint Helicopter Command (RAF Elements only shown)
  • Reconnaissance, Intelligence, and Geographic Centre (Northern Ireland), at Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove
  • No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAuxAF, at Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove
  • No. 606 (Chiltern) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Benson (Ground Support to reinforce the Support Helicopter Force)[1]
  • Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, at RAF Benson

Miscellaneous

British Forces Overseas

• RAF Ascension Island
• RAF Gibraltar
• British Forces Cyprus
  • No. 84 Squadron RAF, at RAF Akrotiri equipped with Bell Griffin HAR2 (Air-lift and Search & Rescue)
  • RAF Akrotiri Voluntary Band

No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing

• No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing, HQ at RAF Mount Pleasant
  • No. 1310 (Tactical Support) Flight equipped with 2 Chinook HC.4.
  • No. 1312 (In-Flight Refuelling) Flight equipped with 1 Voyager KC2 and 1 Airbus A400M Atlas
  • No. 1435 Flight equipped with 4 Eurofighter Typhoons

Un-Grouped

• No. 7644 (Public Relations) Squadron RAuxAF (Providing media operations, ensuring the actions of the armed forces are communicated and understood)

Footnotes

1. Jefford, pp. 128–131.
2. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
3. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
4. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
5. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
6. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
7. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
8. "Royal Air Force". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2020-07-10.

References

• Wing Commander C. G. Jefford RAF, RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912, 1994, Airlife Publishing Ltf, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. ISBN 1 85310 053 6.