That is an annual publication which supplies info on the numbers and kinds of tools and formations of the UK armed forces. Gear and formations statistics have been offered primarily based on the UK armed forces areas: land, maritime and air. Additionally supplied are knowledge sourced from the Division for Transport (DfT) on militarily-useful British-registered vessels.
Knowledge is supplied as at 1 April annually (besides DfT knowledge which is as at 31 December annually).
Principal Factors and Traits
Maritime
At 1 April 2022, there have been 10 submarines and 71 vessels within the UK armed forces (62 vessels within the Royal Navy Floor Fleet; 9 vessels within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary).
Land
Within the UK armed forces, there have been 3,640 items of Fight Gear at 1 April 2022, consisting of:
- 950 Armoured Personnel Carriers
- 1,551Protected Mobility Automobiles
- 1,139 Armoured Preventing Automobiles.
At 1 April 2022, there have been 31 Common Army Battalions within the Infantry and 16 Army Reserves Battalions.
Air
At 1 April 2022, there have been 556 Mounted-wing plane and 287 Rotary-wing plane within the UK armed forces.
As well as, there have been 285 Unmanned Plane Methods as at 1 April.
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Extra particulars on the methodology used on this report are included within the Background High quality Report
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Introduction
That is an annual publication which supplies info on the numbers and kinds of tools and formations of the UK armed forces. Gear and formations statistics have been offered primarily based on the UK armed forces areas: maritime, land and air. Statistics are additionally supplied on militarily-useful British-registered vessels (together with passenger, tanker and fishing vessels).
Previous to 2016, tools and formations statistics had been revealed within the Nationwide Statistics publication Formations, Vessels and Plane. An inside assessment was held throughout March 2016, adopted by a six-week public session. Based mostly on session suggestions, a variety of adjustments had been made to the publication, together with a reputation change to higher mirror the publication’s content material.
The time period ‘tools’ for the needs of this publication refers collectively to vessels, submarines, autos, plane, artillery and engineering tools items.
Knowledge have been obtained from numerous Ministry of Defence sources: Navy Command, Army Gear Division, Army Organisation Department, Air Command and Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). Knowledge on militarily-useful British-registered vessels has been supplied by the Division for Transport. Additional details about the info sources and knowledge high quality could be discovered within the Background High quality Report.
A Nationwide Statistics publication
The UK Statistics Authority designated these statistics as Nationwide Statistics on third June 2016, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act of 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Follow for Statistics.
Designation could be broadly interpreted to imply that the statistics:
- meet recognized consumer wants;
- are nicely defined and readily accessible;
- are produced based on sound strategies; and
- are managed impartially and objectively within the public curiosity.
As soon as statistics have been designated as Nationwide Statistics it’s a statutory requirement that the Code of Follow shall proceed to be noticed. Additional particulars about how this report has been developed since its affirmation as Nationwide Statistics could be discovered within the Background High quality Report.
Maritime Gear and Formations
This part supplies the primary findings on the UK armed forces maritime tools, and formations that are all or primarily sea-based, within the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
Submarines
There have been 10 submarines within the Royal Navy Submarine Service as at 1 April 2022, consisting of:
- 6 Nuclear Submarines
- 4 Ballistic Nuclear Submarines
Vessels
At 1 April 2022, there have been 71 vessels within the UK armed forces: 62 vessels within the Royal Navy and 9 within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA).
The entire variety of Destroyers and Frigates (18) as at 1 April 2022 is in keeping with SDSR Joint Pressure 2025 commitments.
Worksheet 1 within the supplementary tables supplies additional statistics on Maritime vessels and submarines
Maritime Formations
The Royal Navy has 15 Reserve Units and a Fleet Diving Squadron consisting of 10 Units. The Royal Marines consists of three Commando Brigade, the Royal Marine Band Service, the Commando Coaching Centre and 4 Reserve Units.
Worksheet 2 I the supplementary tables supplies additional breakdowns of maritime formations (excluding the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm that are included in worksheet 9).
Militarily-useful British-registered vessels
Militarily-useful vessels are outlined as vessels that might be requisitioned in acceptable circumstances in assist of the UK armed forces.
The variety of passenger, tanker, and dry cargo service provider vessels decreased from 584 to 532 in 2021, with product and chemical tankers displaying the biggest decline.
In 2021, there have been a complete of 77 British-registered service provider specialist and fishing vessels. This is a rise from 72 in 2020.
Worksheets 3 and 4 within the supplementary tables present additional breakdowns of militarily-useful, British-registered vessels.
Land Gear and Formations
This part supplies the primary findings on the UK armed forces Land tools, and formations that are primarily land-based, within the Army.
Land Gear
There have been 3,640 items of Fight Gear as at 1 April 2022, a discount of 345 platforms since 2021. This largely as a result of Husky platforms being defielded.
There are at the moment 21 AJAX platforms in operation within the UK Armed forces.
Protected Mobility Automobiles made up the biggest (42%) proportion of land fight tools
Most Fight Gear Platforms at 1 April 2022 had been Protected Mobility Automobiles (42%), with Armoured Preventing Automobiles and Armoured Personnel Carriers making up 31% and 26% respectively. This modification from 2021 is as a result of variety of Husky autos which had been defielded.
The most typical kinds of fight tools land platforms within the UK armed forces are:
- Bulldog (APC) – 851
- Warrior (AFV) – 721
The UK armed forces had 244 Artillery and 148 Engineering Gear items at 1 April 2022.
At 1 April 2022, there have been 14,358 items of Fight Assist Gear within the UK armed forces of which 46% had been Landrovers and 47% had been Wheeled Assist Automobiles. The lower on this quantity since April 2021 is because of a lower of 147 Landrovers and 228 Wheeled Assist Automobiles.
Worksheet 5 within the supplementary tables supplies additional statistics on land tools platforms.
Land Formations
The Army could be cut up into three principal elements: Fight Forces, Fight Assist Forces and Fight Service Assist.
The Fight Forces contains the Infantry and Royal Armoured Corps. At 1 April 2022, there have been 31 Common Army and 16 Army Reserves Infantry Battalions, and 15 Royal Armoured Corps Regiments (11 Common; 4 Reserves).
Worksheet 6 within the supplementary tables supplies additional breakdowns of Army formations (excluding the Army Air Corps that are included in Worksheet 9).
Air Gear and Formations
This part supplies the primary findings on the UK armed forces plane, and formations that are primarily air-based, as at 1 April 2022.
Mounted-wing Plane
Typhoons are the commonest sort of Mounted-wing platform with 137 plane at 1 April 2022.
The UK armed forces had 556 Mounted-wing platforms at 1 April 2022, a rise of 1 since 2021.
Of the 418 Mounted-wing plane (for which ‘in service’ figures are recorded), 278 (66%) are ‘in service’ which is a smaller proportion than 2020 (79%). ‘In service’ figures will not be obtainable for platforms operated below contracts (see accompanying Excel Tables). ‘In service’ Mounted-wing platforms are all plane in lively fleet administration, which might embody plane in storage.
Unmanned Plane Methods
There have been 285 Unmanned Plane Methods as at 1 April 2022. That is unchanged from 1 April 2021
Rotary-wing Plane
Chinook are the commonest sort of Rotary-wing platform with 59 plane at 1 April 2022.
The UK armed forces had 291 Rotary-wing platforms at 1 April 2021, 10 lower than 2021. Since April 2021, the variety of Apache platforms has been decreased to assist the introduction of the AH-64E mannequin which is able to see the numbers rise once more from subsequent 12 months.
Of the 255 Rotary-wing plane (for which ‘in service’ figures are recorded), 184 (72%) had been in ‘service’. The definition of ‘in service’ differs barely for plane owned by Navy Command.
Worksheets 7 and eight within the supplementary tables present additional Mounted- and Rotary-wing plane statistics.
Air Formations
At 1 April 2022, there have been 91 squadrons within the Royal Air Pressure. Full particulars could be seen in worksheet 9. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm consists of 16 squadrons and 4 Headquarters, while the Army Air Corps incorporates eight Regiments (seven Common; one Reserve).
Worksheet 9 supplies additional breakdowns of Air formations.
Additional Data
Definitions
Definitions and additional details about the kinds and classes of UK armed forces tools and formations could be discovered on every of the Companies’ web sites:
Some definitions have been supplied within the Glossary for added info.
Rounding
All figures on this report are actuals and haven’t been rounded.
Revisions
Corrections to the revealed statistics will likely be made if errors are discovered, or if figures change on account of enhancements to methodology or adjustments to definitions. When making corrections, we are going to comply with the Ministry of Defence Statistics Revisions and Corrections Coverage. All corrected figures will likely be recognized by the image “r”, and an evidence will likely be given of the explanation for and dimension of the revision.
Corrections which might have a considerable impact on the utility of the statistics will likely be corrected as quickly as doable, by reissuing the publication. Minor errors can even be corrected, however for comfort these corrections could also be timed to coincide with the subsequent annual launch of the publication.
Following the 2020 knowledge assortment course of, revisions have been made to beforehand revealed figures as a result of errors within the administrative knowledge. Additional info is obtainable within the supplementary Excel Tables).
Contact Us
Defence Statistics welcome suggestions on our statistical merchandise. In case you have any feedback or questions on this publication or about our statistics typically, you’ll be able to contact us as follows:
Phone: 030 679 84458
Electronic mail: Evaluation-Publications@mod.gov.uk
In case you require info which isn’t obtainable inside this or different obtainable publications, you could want to submit a Request for Data below the Freedom of Data Act 2000 to the Ministry of Defence. Extra info on this may be discovered on the GOV.UK web site.
In case you want to correspond by mail, our postal tackle is:
Defence Statistics (Publications)
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For basic MOD enquiries, please name: 020 7218 9000
Glossary
Ballistic Nuclear Submarine – A Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) is a nuclear-armed, nuclear-powered submarine.
Fight Gear – Collective time period used for Protected Mobility Automobiles, Armoured Personnel Carriers and Armoured Preventing Automobiles.
In Service – The definition of ‘in service’ varies throughout tools varieties and between providers. To help interpretation, a definition of ‘in service’ has been supplied within the footnotes for every desk the place ‘in Service’ figures have been used. Be aware that in service figures will not be obtainable for platforms operated below contracts. See footnotes for additional info.
Militarily-useful British-registered vessels – Vessels that might be requisitioned in acceptable circumstances in assist of the armed forces. It’s required by worldwide legislation for all service provider ships to be registered in a rustic, referred to as its flag state. Flag refers back to the nation wherein the ship is registered. Different kinds of ship may also be utilized in sure circumstances. Overseas-flagged however British-owned ships is also requisitioned in sure circumstances.
Nuclear submarine – A Ship Submersible Nuclear (SSN) is a conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarine.
Protected Mobility Automobile – A wheeled Armoured Personnel Service serving as a navy patrol, reconnaissance or safety automobile. Protected Mobility autos had been developed in response to the threats of contemporary counter insurgency warfare, with an emphasis on Ambush Safety and Mine Resistance. Till just lately these autos had been termed ‘Protected Patrol Automobiles’.
